R.E.M. – Near Wild Heaven (12″)

From 1991 and classic R.E.M. now sadly disbanded. (What a shit musical year it’s been so far!) Harmonies abound and with floaty folk style compliments the cover of a bathers in a heat haze, thank God for the sun today. Backed by 2 acoustic tracks, a gentle “Pop Song `89” recorded at Borderline, London on March 15, 1991. And the folk fused “Half A World Away” recorded for Rockline Los Angeles on April 1, 1991.

(The last one is dedicated to my mate James (versatile singer/songwriter, who loves all things acoustica and pluck-able!)

http://www14.zippyshare.com/v/bFpasVpr/file.html

Warner Bros. Records ‎– W0055 T

A	Near Wild Heaven (LP Version)	3:18
B1	Pop Song ’89 (Live Acoustic Version)	3:20
B2	Half A World Away (Live Acoustic Version)	3:21

 

Dusty Springfield – In Private (12″)

Scratching chins or heads. Well it does have the Pet Shop Boys behind it and it is a rather splendid pop gem that people might have forgotten about. A career revival with the other track , “Nothing Has Been Proven” over here…. (and re-upped)

Dusty Springfield – Nothing Has Been Proved (12″)

This was the more well known of the with a contemporary sixties feel about it, synth pop at its finest with Julian Mendelsohn co-producing and mixing. The extended version is fun and sounds much more Pet Shop Boys with percussion breaks and Fairlight. Catchy as hell and what a brilliant voice!

http://www72.zippyshare.com/v/x9aBhjcf/file.html

Parlophone ‎– 12R 6234 

A	In Private (12″ Version)	7:12
B1	In Private (7″ Version)	4:24
B2	In Private (Instrumental Version)	4:24

Claudia Brücken ‎– Absolut[e] (12″)

1990 and the voice of Propaganda with the lead single off her solo album, “Love: And A Million Things.”

Rather light and poppy this was produced by Pascal Gabriel and included a host of well respected session musicians. Funky house via synth pop, more than edgy industrial that Propaganda were probably expecting, the 12″ does have some nice sounds on it. “Strangelove” by Depeche Mode springs to mind.

B-side “Whisper” could be Propaganda with a phatt synth bass and heavy electronic percussion , a little “Dr. Mabuse” in places with the half spoken lyrics and sampled guitars. Produced with co-writer John Uriel (from synth band Empire)

Both title tracks start off a bit crispy in the first minute but bear with it and it smooths out.

NEW LINK 2019

https://www.mediafire.com/file/rcwp3wroc4yy4ec/Claudia_Bruken_-_Absolut%5Be%5D.rar/file

https://mega.nz/#!z2Jl3aqY!24OU9vpZkIIK7KG4Nr37RkbS7–g7KnMqetbDCI9yY4

Island Records ‎– 12 IS471

A	Absolut[e] (Shooting Star)	7:28
B1	Absolut[e] (Original)	4:02
B2	Whisper	5:44

Beautiful People Featuring Jimi Hendrix ‎– Rilly Groovy (US 12″)

So not got too much faceless early 90’s dance music on here so I thought this might be interesting. From 1993 and containing samples of Jimi Hendrix, mostly spoken word snippets and guitar licks from the infamous Monterey festival performance put to a “4 to the Floor” House beat. The original version has the most guitar licks in a more chilled out, jazzy groove and is the best of the bunch, less banging!

Beautiful People comprised of the drummer from Bush, Robin Goodridge, Luke Baldry and Duncan Kane and had a more musical approach to dance music, with nods to 60’s Psychedelia by sampling Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones.

http://www23.zippyshare.com/v/gyUuu8Ds/file.html

Continuum Records ‎– 12315-

1A –Rilly Groovy (Ripe Fruity Mix) –6:55

B1 –Rilly Groovy (Vibe Sauce “Dig This” Mix) –4:18

B2 –Rilly Groovy (Original Version) –4:44

Nasty Rox Inc. – Escape From New York (12″)

Back to 1988 and a short-lived project by Trevor Horn at ZTT and probably in response to Age Of Chance’s success, as well as Sique Sique Sputnik and Westworlds. From Discogs – “A  pioneering band who were among the first to attempt to mix rock and club music. The four key members (C J Mackintosh, Dan Fox, John Waddell and Leo T) were augmented by Dave Dorrell (later to be involved in the legendary M|A|R|R|S project) who was described as their “pop instigator” – a role lying somewhere between fifth-member and band manager.” Super pristine production and THAT late 80’s bouncing bass, all New Jack swing with sampled horns, scratches and vocal samples. Side B is really similar to side A, it was hard to tell the difference!  Reminds me of Tackhead and  Colourbox (who did morph into M|A|R|R|S.) No wonder they supported Pop Will Eat Itself!

http://www89.zippyshare.com/v/Xl70G3RO/file.html

ZTT ‎– NROX 1

A	Escape From New York
B	Escape From New York 2

808 State – Cübik / Olympic (Remix)(12″)

Well, it seems I’ve stumbled into an early 90’s dance vibe, so off we go!

A rare twelve care of Mike B (tingly treble alert so adjust if necessary!) from Manchester’s own 808 State. Eric Kupper and the late Tom Richardson provide a long techno trip on Cubik Tomix with added guitar wails. Graham Massey gives an complete different, lighter take on Olympic with bubbling bass, classic 808 State. Mike Haas goes all alien , sci-fi on us in the most inventive mix, “Lambrusco Cowboy.”

http://www100.zippyshare.com/v/cmp3sYzO/file.html

ZTT ‎– ZANG 5TX

A	Cübik Tomix	9:39
B1	Olympic (August 90)	4:52
B2	Lambrusco Cowboy Mix	4:05

The Wonderstuff – Caught In My Shadow (12″)

Indie guitar jangle from 1991 and The Wonderstuff sounding like James but in a good way. Mike Glossop provides the production gloss and the extended version has no annoying gimmicks just makes it longer, who’d of thought.Oh, those lyrics and memories of drinking snakebite in the student union. Again, it seems to be a bit of forgotten track. Backed by a cover of Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth” with plenty of heavy guitars and Miles Hunt’s eccentric vocal delivery.

NEW LINK 2024

https://store14.gofile.io/download/direct/da8b0e67-7fed-4de4-882b-1f9ca3ede51e/The%20Wonderstuff%20-%20Caught%20In%20My%20Shadow.rar

Polydor ‎– 867097-1, The Far Out Recording Company ‎– GONEX 12

A1 –Caught In My Shadow

A2 –Gimme Some Truth (Live)

B –Caught In My Shadow (Extended Version)

That Petrol Emotion – Hey Venus (12″)

For those people sick of hearing “Loaded” by Primal Scream or “Fools Gold” by The Stone Roses, both overplayed to buggery in Pub’s throughout the land. From 1990 and more Indie Dance from Belfast’s That Petrol Emotion and another Balearic floor bulger. Samples abound with a psychedelic groove with the remixes provided by Kevin Armstrong, band member Steve Mack and Hugo Nicolson. The B-side mix leaves out the vocals. A Hacienda classic with so much creativeness going into it. Find it on a pub digital jukebox and give it a blast! Mooooooo!

NEW LINK 2022

https://gofile.io/d/SbfJh2

Virgin ‎– VST 1290

A	Hey Venus (Mad Thatcher Disease Mix)	6:11
B	Hey Venus (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Mix)	6:19

The Woodentops – Everyday Living (12″)

So some Indie Dance stuff now and this cut from The Woodentops remixed with Adrian Sherwood providing a bouncy groove along with Rolo McGinty’s light vocals and sparse guitar licks.

More dub effects are added to B-side, “Why” which is a Balearic club monster, here in all it 7 minute plus glory!

NEW LINK 2021

https://gofile.io/d/W8sYfz

Rough Trade ‎– RTT 178

A	Everyday Living (Extended Mix)	4:12
B	Why (Extended Mix)	7:58

Working Week – Rodrigo Bay (12″)

It’s Sunday so that means some Latin Jazz. From 1986 and off the soundtrack of “Absolute Beginners” we have British modern jazz combo Working Week (Simon Booth, Larry Stabbins and Julie Roberts) with a rather splendid dance mix by Ben Rogan, (Sade) beefing up the original Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley production.

Cha, cha, cha! Bossanova style!

NEW LINK 2021

https://gofile.io/d/6UObDO

Virgin ‎– VS 862-12

A	Rodrigo Bay (12″ Dance Mix)
B	Rodrigo Bay Boogaloo (Dub Mix)