Category: Versions, versions

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Athletico Spizz 80 – ‘Central Park’ UK 7″ (A&M Records, AMS 7566, 1980)

‘Central Park’ was initially a non-album 7″ single release by Athletico Spizz 80 in late 1980. if you are not familiar with Atheltico Spizz 80 then you almost certainly be familiar with Spizzenergi and their single ‘Where’s Captain Kirk?’, as it was just about everywhere at one point – famously the very first chart topper of the indie charts, when launched in early 1980 (though that single’s release hailed from 1979).

Athletico Spizz 80 - 'Central Park' UK 7" front cover design
^ Athletico Spizz 80 – ‘Central Park’ UK 7″ front cover design

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Bill Nelson ‘Youth Of Nation On Fire’ UK 7” doublepack single (Mercury, WILL22, 1981)

A return to a VersionCrazy favourite, the ever wonderful Bill Nelson. It’s good to see news recently about a deluxe box set edition of Bill’s 1981 album ‘Quit Dreaming And Get On The Beam’ due for release in late November. The path for the album to gain a release was far from straightforward – Bill Nelson had been signed to EMI imprint Harvest, but with the EMI/Thorn merger that took place, a cull of acts deemed surplus to requirements/the balance sheet saw an exit from EMI and plans for the album shelved. I look forward to what new insights the accompanying text in the super deluxe box set may bring to this backstory, along with the chance to hear a whole new mix of the album, courtesy of Stephen W Tayler.

Bill Nelson ‘Youth Of Nation On Fire’ UK 7” doublepack single front cover design
^ Bill Nelson ‘Youth Of Nation On Fire’ UK 7” doublepack single front cover design

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Colin Newman – ‘Feigned Hearing’ Belgian 7″ (Crammed Discs, CRAM 13457, 1986)

This obscure little gem was a single peeled from Colin Newman’s 1986 solo album, ‘Commercial Suicide’ (which I feel likely will be covered here at a later date) and acted as wonderful summary of the pastoral synthesized pop that I’d likely describe the album as. Well, to be fair, Colin Newman himself used the word pastoral to describe the music on the album, in the accompanying ‘Interview’ 12″ that also appeared in the promotional orbit of this album. But there can be no denying that the sweetly toned synths, absence of familiar drums and percussion does lend this single – and most if not all of the parent album – a particular sound that is quite unlike anything else that Newman had done up to that time (though would revisit to some degree on the following ‘It Seems’ album, arguably).

Colin Newman - 'Feigned Hearing' Belgian 7" front cover design
^ Colin Newman – ‘Feigned Hearing’ Belgian 7″ front cover design

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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)

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