Versions, versions

28 September, 201914 October, 2019

Skids – ‘Fields’ UK 7″ and 12″ (Virgin VS401 and VS401-12, 1981)

When first released in the summer of 1981, ‘Fields’ was quite a challenging release for Skids fans to get used to and it never really gained the success the new vision that the remaining band members, Richard Jobson and Russell Webb, had in mind for the band. The departure of Stewart Adamson was obvious, his familiar sonic hallmark missing from the A side, replaced by a somewhat more twangy guitar and a more pastoral scene fashioned from acoustic guitar, flute, traditional drums and layered, choral vocals. In retrospect it is not nearly the radical departure it was made out to be, though much of the subsequent ‘Joy’ album certainly would be.

Skids - 'Fields' 7" - Richard Jobson sleeve design, front — *^ Skids – ‘Fields’ 7″ variation 1 – Richard Jobson sleeve design, front*

Skids - 'Fields' 7" - Richard Jobson sleeve design, rear — *^ Skids – ‘Fields’ 7″ variation 1, rear*

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14 September, 20198 February, 2021

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – ‘Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)’ (Dindisc DIN40-12, 1982) – ‘Coin’ sleeve version

Back in January 2013 I first posted about the Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark ‘Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)’ 12″ single with the foil finish ‘stained glass’ artwork version, with the note that I would follow-up with the foil-finish ‘coin’ artwork version at a later date. Well, some years later on than I had imaged, here we are!

'Maid of Orleans' front cover design 2 - 'coin' sleeve version - detail — *^ ‘Maid of Orleans’ front cover design 2 – ‘coin’ sleeve version*

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28 August, 201914 September, 2019

Gary Numan – ‘Remember I Was Vapour’ (Live) West German 12″ (Beggars Banquet INT 126.600, 1980)

An odd choice of single perhaps, not the most immediate song to shout ‘single’ release from ‘Telekon’ – but then, neither was ‘This Wreckage’, was it? This 12″ single was only released in the then West Germany and was immediately of appeal to collectors worldwide due to its attractive sleeve design and unique pairing of tracks. Remember, for me anyway, this was the era of interesting import releases that would be listed in the back pages of music papers such as Sounds, NME, etc with excitingly brief descriptions as ‘diff pic bag’ indicating some (variable) picture sleeve design from the familiar UK versions.

Gary Numan - 'Remember I Was Vapour' (Live) West German 12" front cover design — *^ Gary Numan – ‘Remember I Was Vapour’ (Live) West German 12″ front cover design*

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28 July, 20195 February, 2022

Bauhaus – ‘Kick In The Eye’ UK 7″ and 12″ (Beggars Banquet, BEG54 and BEG54(T), 1981)

The first release of this song dating from early 1981 features a mix that has rarely resurfaced on CD re-issues since – on the myriad Bauhaus compilations that have been released over the years, the 1982 ‘Searching For Satori’ EP remix version has been by far the go-to version. The only releases of the original mix to be found on CD appear to be on 1995’s various artists compilation CD ‘Gothic Rock 2 – 80’s Into 90’s’ and 2009’s ‘Omnibus’ boxed set re-issue of ‘Mask’, where it is listed as ‘Kick In The Eye (Original Single Version A Side)’. (I believe this mix may also be on the Canadian ‘The Sky’s Gone Out’ CD too, but have never come by a copy of this to verify – anyone?)

Bauhaus - 'Kick In The Eye' 1981 UK 7" front cover design — *^ Bauhaus – ‘Kick In The Eye’ 1981 UK 7″ front cover design*

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