An unofficial release that gathers together the wonderful New Wave Pop of Scotland’s Altered Images and the genius of Martin Rushent in his Genetic Studio. After that the bands sound changed and the Chart success faltered.
Kicking off with the seminal “Happy Birthday” that goes all weird three minutes in as the Rushent Dubs and Edits kick in with the Linn Drum Machine working overtime. I wonder if any put this on by mistake from a request – you’d be worn out!
“I Could Be Happy” has a synth bassline and is more of a dub than an extended version.
“Pinky Blue” is a weird hybrid of Punk and Dance, edgy and well balanced.
Going for the Blondie Disco sound on “Don’t Talk To Me About Love” and it was their producer, Mike Chapman who developed the sound into a more Dancefloor funk.
Tony Visconti helped out on the alt-Disco of “Bring Me Closer” from May ’83, all Disco strings and funky guitar riffs, I wonder what the die-hard felt about this ?
“Love To Stay” is a bit of mid-paced, sad Disco with some nice trumpet. Calypso feel with that bloody glockenspiel !
“Think That It Might” from Pinky Blue is a mix of jangle and dance beats and bass, Martin Rushent on the buttons.
Most of this stuff was from the 90’s and 2000’s so I can shove it here on a Wednesday. BTW I’m really busy guys hence the lack of posts!
So what’s in the folder ?
Regards the remixes we have a couple of Hot Tracks remixes, “When Smokey Sings” from 1987 by Steve Bourasa – who gives it a more of a House feel with a different bass sounds and a nice breakdown and actual samples from the name checked soul stars, better than the regular 12″ “Be Near Me” is even more epic, mixing in the “A to Z” track from the “How To Be a Zillionare” album, very inventive – “What Did You Say Eden ?”
Razormaid provide a mix for “How To Be A Millionaire”, short but different enough. “The Real Thing” shows their growing love for House and mixed by Bruce Forrest – not the best quality mind.
Collaborations are next. The next track featured on the ’89 album from Arthur Baker And The Backbeat Disciples called “Merge”. Synthpop with a freestyle beats.
From the 2001 album “Re-Members Only” King Britt gets the Fry vocal performance spot on this electo funk track. Robbie Rivera samples “Be Near Me” on his 2008 track “Be Near” from the album “Back To Zero”, looped and repeated to death on a Tech House stomper. mmmmm.
2006 saw the release of the deliberately retro (but with a twist) from Sonic Hub (Ricky Wilde – Kim’s brother and Sean Vincent) Highlight of the collection and was actually written by Gary Numan and Martin Fry!
The final collaboration is with Bond theme master David Arnold and was off the album “Shaken Not Stirred” a good croon to “Thunderball”
ABC – How To Be A Millionaire (Razormaid Mix) (5.39)
ABC – The Real Thing (DMC Mix) (7.48)
Arthur Baker And The Backbeat Disciples Feat. Martin Fry – Mystical Girl (5.13)
King Britt Presents Sylk 130 (feat. Martin Fry) – One And Only (3.40)
Robbie Rivera – Be Near (Club Mix) (7.43)
Sonic Hub Featuring Martin Fry – New Man (Audio Hacker Mix) (4.45)
David Arnold Featuring Martin Fry – Thunderball (4.15)
Three bonuses include the 10″ version of “Skyscrapping” from May 1997. A collaboration with Heaven 17’s Glenn Gregory and Keith Lowndes (who was with Gregory in Honeyroot and was part of the ABC setup)
“Skyscrapping” , is quite a gentle, pastoral ballad. Hippy stuff. “Light Years” is loads better, space sounds and lots of Bowie influence – I think this is a remix. An involving track with a nicely retro sound.
“Skydudding” is a special remix of the main track, plenty of beats and DUB!
Deconstruction – 74321 48525 1
A1
Skyscraping (Alternate Version)
A2
Light Years
B1
Skydubbing
B2
Stranger Things (Live Version)
The same trio worked on the “Stranger Things” CD release. More of a band sound on this but with elements of psychedelic synth.
“All We Need” does a gentle, synth tinged ballad…a lost gem for ABC fans. “The World Spins On” is more of an acoustic strum and an essence of late Duran Duran.
Nicely finished with the much gentler acoustic mix.
Blatant – 74321 45363 2
1
Stranger Things
4:07
2
The World Spins On
3:43
3
All We Need
4:32
4
Stranger Things (Acoustic)
5:06
#
So they did do a Christmas track back in 2016. A cynical go at a Christmas number 1 ??? Cheesy but not too cheesy it ticks all the xmas boxes, Buble and the bubbly ??
The rest are acoustic versions of well known tracks. Stripped down to piano and acoustic guitar, I can forgive the sickly main track. Too much figgy pud.
Debuting with a Bang! Abba and some weird and wonderful mixes and different versions.
Hot Tracks and unofficial mixes feature in this little collection of 13 tracks cobbled together by Fred and quality controlled by me.
Kicking off with a Hot Tracks mix of “Does Your Mother Know”, edited and extended. Love that chuggy bass.
Another Hot Tracks remix is the “The Visitors”, psychedelic and proggy it has excellent production for ’82. Plenty of Beatles influence on this and an Abba track to play for the non-fans of the band.
Ben Liebrand helps out the Disconet DJ Subscription service with a very early 90’s sound, very hard to trace when it was but it’s a good ‘un
“Gimme Gimme Gimme” get the Hot Tracks Remix treatment from 1987, bringing out the funk and orchestra but keeping it authentic with some edits.
The first dud track is the weirdly arranged “Take A Chance On Me” with out of tempo claves and a monkey squeal – was it the wind up monkey on backing percussion ?!. It does burst into life but it just doesn’t work.
From the “Super Trouper” album “On & On & On” gets a remix, very Abba Disco and not the best lyrics but fun!
“The Visitors” return with a 2013 mix – not a bad update, synthpop with some good dub effects.
Another contemporary mix of “S.O.S.” by an unknown remixer. Who did like that piano intro and the arpeggiated keyboard sound. Works really well.
The classic “The Name Of The Game” keeps the authentic feel, extended singalong territory. Again not a clue who was behind the mix.
Philippe Dupont-Mouchet’s mix is the loudest track on this and over edited,some interesting parts though especially that violin that I’d not heard before!
A classic rare mix can be heard on the very different “Summer Night City” classic Abba – once again. What great arrangers Björn and Benny were. This is followed by another rare version from the time (1979) and the more disco-ey with those tight harmonies.
Finally my favourite track by them and a rare remix, sounding like Blancmange with Agnetha lead vocals on it. Remixer unknown.
Shame some are only 128 kbs quality but a nice little compilation to put on.
So I’ve just compiled this and Fred has kindly sent me some improved Rips – how thoughtful ! So bonus track is “Does Your Mother Know (MBL Dance Mix)” weird mix but
The debut release from short lived trio Boom Boom Room (was it the name perhaps) The trio comprised of Andy Nkanza (real name Manning, vocals), Skid Solo (drums), Inz (bass), and Lushi Lee (rhythm guitar & bass and who was in One The Juggler)
Sequenced synthpop from 1986 and getting to number 74 in the chart and doing surprisingly better in South Africa where it was used in an deodorant advert. (Storm)
It was produced by Steve James and Simon Etchell and has a bit Robert Palmer in there with the synth rock elements and of course saxophone. Catchy as a catchy pole with a hook to hook fish.
“Days Like These” is a bit of a ballad, cheesy as hell !
Late to get this Theme up! Work ! Work ! Work! Expect an Abba day, (honestly?) and ABC day, some random B Bands and a re-uppage on Thursday…so get your requests in !!!!
The last of the Blue Zoo and this single from the same year.
More heavy on the tech and synth than previous releases. Bass synth instead of bass guitar. Clattering samples and more Western guitar. This time produced by Colin Campsie and George McFarlane (The Quick and Giant Steps)
A “semi-live” studio version of “Don’t Walk Away” is the B-side, another standalone track and a good New Wave cut.
From the archives here is a link to their debut LP
More Blue Zoo and this time produced by Tim Friese-Greene from the album “2 By 2” (to be re-upped tomorrow)
Light New Romantic dance pop from ’83. The 12″ bringing out more of the synths, not liking that plinky plonk piano and those baking vocals tho! “Cry Boy Cry” pt 2.
“Shine” has some Hank Marvin guitar to go with the Simmon’s drums. It has a slight goth feel to it, almost Cure like, prefer it to the A-side.
A track that was originally from 1981, featuring vocoder and loops and no drums whatsoever. (inspired by Massenet’s aria “O Souverain” from “Le Cid”, performed by Charles Holland, thanks Discogs)
M.A.N.D.Y. vs. Booka Shade released this as a couple of twelves in October 2008, adding beats and bass but keeping the originals strange narrative. Contains half a dozen long mixes
Matthias John’s mix is quite Tech stomp.
The “Cubans Rework” is basically an instrumental extended it out to over 14 minutes. Remixed by Frank Heinrich.
Audio Fly (Anthony Middleton and Luca Saporito) keep it quite deep, with some clock chimes and rattling percussion.
Felix Da Housecat gives it more of a commercial House edge, Adding piano and strings for atmosphere and a twanging bass after an extended build up.
The final mix is by German Techno DJ Robag Wruhme, Tech House beats with some light piano to finish.
Some very loud Fred rips or steals )not all) plus the original version so you can compare and contrast, however he has just sent me some vinyl rips in FLAC and WAV. files and they are sounding good.
From March 2001 and the limited edition release of a this superb cover of Bowie’s track from 1976, another cover of a cover which Billy nails !
Accompanied by just piano (from Steve Aungle) and acoustic guitar, this showcases his voice perfectly as it does on the Sparks cover with a violin replacing the guitar. Recorded in Dundee
Randy Newman’s “Baltimore” gets the proper version this week (after last weeks Bootleg) Seven minutes of Trip Hop produced by Dennis Wheatley and Tony Newland (both from the band Atlas) Some lush strings.
The final track was written by Wheatley and Paul Haig. Chilled vibes again with MC Buzz B adding some extra vocals.
