myvinyldreams

More Jazz – Funky stuff with added soul with the more contemporary sounds of Floy Joy. From 1984 and produced by Don Was and mixed by John “Tokes” Potoker; the Ward brothers (Shaun and Michael, both ex-Clock DVA) have come up with a shiny pop ballad, almost Paul Young-like with Carroll Thompson providing the soulful vocals. B-sides inclue the short instrumental of just piano and saxophone, “Theme..” and the funkier “Into The Hot”, the title track off the album, remixed and extended.

http://www117.zippyshare.com/v/7DWyjIfo/file.html

Virgin ‎– VS 716-12

More early 80’s Jazz-Funk with this combo on alternative label, Beggars Banquet. Morrisey Mullen were a  Jazz band that included Scottish guitarist Jim Mullen, saxophonist Dick Morrissey and bassist John Mole. This was a cover of a Stevie Wonder track off the album, “Hotter Than July” This was backed by the title track from the album, “Badness” with Linda Taylor on vocals.

Both track were produced by Chris Palmer, giving it disco feel to go with the jazz grooves.

http://www109.zippyshare.com/v/cKzFnyt4/file.html

Beggars Banquet ‎– BEG 60(T)

Some dance/crossover stuff today from the 80’s

Marshall Jefferson gets involved on this Tom Tom Club release (side project of Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz from Talking Heads)

So we get a fierce Acid House mix that blends the guitar solo’s and shredding with acid squelches and drum machines, a good mash-up of styles. The “Short Cool Mix” (not really at 5 and a half minutes) is more normal house almost electro clash in style, got to love Weymouth’s deranged vocal performance. The “Say Yes” is a shorter acid workout and is more a dub mix. The B-side is just plain weird, with Frantz on vocals and production by Eric “ET” Thorngren, mock country and in the same vein as Malcolm McLaren.

http://www68.zippyshare.com/v/csClYfUn/file.html

Fontana ‎– 870 696-1

It must be Level 42 time again. Dust off your Air- Bass and get ready for another Mark King lesson in bass guitar strutting.From 1983 this failed to dent the Top 40 in the UK and was the follow up single to the “Chinese Way” and is all about a long distance relationship. This 12″ mix by John Luongo and was unavailable on CD for a while and features lots of extended instrumental parts, filling out a slowish, moody song.

The B-side is more upbeat and funky and was off the previous album “The Pursuit Of Accidents” (Their third album) here in a remix.

http://www4.zippyshare.com/v/x4gAfad0/file.html

Polydor ‎– POSPX 570

http://www.dailymotion.com/2ca7d47c-e9b1-4978-969f-129f23cd30ba

An interesting contrast with the previous post.

Yup, a change in direction and an abbreviation to K.T.P. see’s them have Mixmaster Phil Harding drafted in to give them a hit. Scarlett Von Wollenmann joins them on diva backing vocals, it’s pure synth pop, both shiny and grating, even the original production by Pete Walsh shouts “PLEASE LOVE US AGAIN!” It is quite catchy!

Horns and brass are all over the dub mix, whilst the extended version sounds very late 80’s with generic saxophone and chiming synth. What redeems it is the inclusion of the track “Michael” like the old KTP , quirky and set to a reggae beat which develops into a showtune!  Confirming them to be still as mad as box of frogs.

http://www31.zippyshare.com/v/IkgOfGla/file.html

Magnet ‎– 12KTP-10

Been looking forward to sharing this, first real commercial release from Kissing The Pink from 1982. Here with a Club Mix of an album track of the must-have “Naked”; morbid, sad and powerful – a theme they seem to like. This was sung by Jospehine Wells in her Toyah style delivery. The drums have been cranked up for the mix and although not very long is different enough. B- side is another alternative version of the album “Awe Of Industry” which has a more guitar/rockier sound, again short and frantic at 3 minutes dead.

http://www21.zippyshare.com/v/xlSjDcyg/file.html

Magnet ‎– 12 KTP 2

An album now from one of my favourite, forgotten 80’s bands Dalek I. (Love You) Their first album offers a treat for minimal coldwave synth fans and also fans of early OMD and Teardrop Explodes. (some of the members were involved in the band, McClusky and Holmes, but only for a short time in the late 70’s)

Comprised of Andy Gill (guitars and vocals) and Dave Hughes (keyboards) they were soon signed to a major label, Phonogram, who dropped the Love You bit from the bands name. This was the first production job by Chris Hughes. (who later was a drummer of Adam And The Ants)

Fourteen varied tracks from moody synth pieces to dancier post punk songs. An album you’ve got to listen to all the way through, “Missing 15 minutes” is a great album closer.

http://www28.zippyshare.com/v/rT4UbKwm/file.html

Back Door ‎– OPEN 1

Keeping with the theme of duo’s it probably is a good time to revisit this loss gem from 1983. Produced with Martin Rushent at Genetic this was the third single from Leisure Process (Ross Middleton and Gary Barnacle) and unlike a lot of stuff I got this when it came out. Posted on one of my blogs many moons ago Mike has kindly ripped his own copy to share. The mix is more an instrumental than an extended version  with the vocals coming in halfway through. All the Rushent trademarks are here, Linn, bouncing bassline and crystal clear synths.

“Company B” has Barnacle adding bugle to his crazed saxophone assembly, darker and more electro, film noir , a G.I.’s lament with some loops and primitive samples. Reminds me of the Associates given the manic vocals.

http://www79.zippyshare.com/v/yk9SaOCI/file.html

Epic ‎– TA 3405

From Canada and released in 1982 this was their debut release. Comprised of the duo of Drew Arnott (studio owner and producer) and Darryl Kromm. Not a clue about them.

This synthpop track was produced by fellow Canadian the late Bruce Fairbairn (who went on to produce  Loverboy, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Van Halen) hence some heavy guitar on here. Remixed by Paul Sabu and Rusty Garner it is the Daa Daa Daa that will hook you in!

(So Mike has upgraded his software for vinyl ripping and after a few tweaks this is the result…please comment on the quality, constructively please.)

http://www93.zippyshare.com/v/50dCVPLs/file.html

Capitol Records ‎– SPRO-9928

Experimental industrial band go all commercial on this track from 1985 ! The duo of Andrew E. Beer and Robert Taylor  where joined by keyboardist Tony Thorpe, all of them went on to do more dance stuff in the 90’s. Always linked to contemparies 23 Skiddoo, this was classic electro soul

“Runaway” sung by Cheryl Lucas is a cover of a Rockwell track by himself, Lamont and Dozier, very Billie Jean but with a better bass. The “Radical Remix” is the better mix but get rids of most of the vocals and adds some heavy guitar.

“Breakdown” is pure soul/funk with vocals from Linda Duggan, the “Club Mix” is very Gloria Estefan, love the horn synth and treated bass on this all over a hippety-hoppety beat.

http://www44.zippyshare.com/v/rU6Lc3nX/file.html

Illuminated Records ‎– 12 LEV 64