Most music magazines these days give away CD's occasionally, although in my opinion it's usually a case of finding one or two things you like. Usually there's some sort of record label promotion involved. Back in the '80s giveaways were rare except for the occasional flexi-disc usually with some wobbly Christmas greeting from the talentless one from Wham or the drummer from Duran Duran.
Record Mirror gave away this tape in 1985, but there were some conditions. First, you had to collect consecutive coupons from the magazine, and then send off for the tape. The slight catch was the full tracklisting was not provided, with each week instead two or three of the artists being revealed. The promotion was designed to highlight the tape itself, a 60 minute cassette from Maxell (Type I, not the other Type II Chrome thingy). Obviously the tape product was pretty good, because it played quite nicely 27 years later so I could digitize the tracks.
Quite a good compilation for it's type, we have several RM favourites (Lizzie Tear - who never seemed to release anything at all, Del Amitri, Hipsway, Win, Virginia Astley). We also have the original version of "Opportunities" by The Pet Shop Boys, before they achieved chart success later in the year. Several tracks were exclusive to this release at the time.
1. Win - You've Got The Power
2. Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities
3. Lizzie Tear - Kima (Hey Ma Ma)
4. Brilliant - Ruby Fruit Jungle
5. Colourbox - Arena
6. Chakk - Turn The Sound Out
7. The Pogues - A Pair of Brown Eyes
8. Animal Nighlife - Love is Just The Great Pretender (Undressing Mix)
9. James - Just Hip
10. ABC - Fear of the World (In Cinemascope)
11. Tippa Irie - Complain Neighbour
12. Virginia Astley - I Live In Dreams
13. Hipsway - Forbidden
14. Del Amitri - Heard Through A Wall
15. Lloyd Cole and the Commotions - Rattlesnakes (Live)
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