Celebrating vinyl / CD / cassette / memorabilia releases of musical gems and curiosities from the punk era onwards
Back to another of my favourite formats, the regional exclusive mini-album – and once again, as was often the case for this type of release, hailing from the US and Canada. As is typical, a compilation of tracks pulled together from various UK releases but with one vital extra piece of firepower going for it – an at the time new ‘Dance Mix’ of ‘Fade To Grey’.
Continue reading “Visage – ‘Visage’ US Mini-Album (Polydor, PX-1-501, 1981)”
How far Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark progressed from the time they released that first limited edition 7″ pressing on Factory records in the summer of 1979 so swiftly. A re-release of the single on the new Virgin-backed label DinDisc by September alongside a high-profile support act slot for Gary Numan on his first solo live tour. The Gramophone Suite studio and release of their second single and debut album in the early months of 1980. And then by Spring, the big breakthrough with the lush re-recording of ‘Messages’ and first singles chart success. Hardly time to take breath before Autumn and even bigger, international success with ‘Enola Gay’ and, on its way, their second album, ‘Organisation’. Whew!
Continue reading “Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: ‘Music 1977-80’ book (UK, Dinsong Ltd, 1980)”
A second instalment of some Ultravox button badges, following on from Part One – more of a mixed bag here from various eras spanning both the John Foxx and Midge Ure ’70s/’80s line-ups. The ‘Ha!-Ha!-Ha!’ is much larger than the rest, which are all much more of the standard button badge sizing. The ‘Three Into One’ design is derived from the illustration on the cover (and used more wholesale on the press adverts of the time) – I had another one of these in bright green, if I recall. Enjoy!
Originally posted 28 October 2018, I’m re-posting this as the original has come under quite the spam attack for some odd reason…
This is the original issue of this VHS cassette that I bought when it was first released in late 1983. That year had been quite momentous for Bauhaus of course with their final album, tour and split and they had gained a level of popularity that they had been working towards for some time. As David J infamously opined in a contemporary interview, with ‘Spirit’ they had knocked on the door of recognition, with ‘Ziggy Stardust’ they decided that it was time to boot it in. There’s no doubt that part of the appeal was their visual edge and the promo videos were all part of this (even if at the time in the UK, it was never easy to actually see these with any regularity).
The Sisters of Mercy, but not… ‘Giving Ground’ on 7″ single was the opening shot of action by Andrew Eldritch to lay stake on the name of The Sisterhood, to stymie the efforts by former bandmates Wayne Hussey and Craig Adams to claim it as a continuation of the Sisters’ legacy. ‘Gift’ would fire off a later full salvo. The story is not without some point of intrigue many years on, may I direct your gaze towards the Sisters of Mercy site, the SistersWiki entry on the single, entry on the Sisterhood itself, and a wide ranging discussion on the Heartland Forum.
Continue reading “The Sisterhood – ‘Giving Ground’ UK 7″ single (Merciful Release, SIS 010, 1986)”