Rick Springfield ‎– Human Touch (US Promo 12″)

Seems to be turning into a bit of John Luongo week. (But it’s the early 80’s so no remixes allowed right?)

With a name like Rick Springfield you’d expect a checked shirt American Rocker. Nope you get an Aussie synth head who played a bit of guitar.

From 1983 and so full of technology it still sounds immense. Produced with L.A’s Bill Drescher Luongo goes for a very quiet build up until the riff kicks in.

The “Instrumental” is just as good and quite rare. You can hear in the arrangement there was a lot going on.

Loved it back then and love it now!

NEW LINK 2022

https://gofile.io/d/vVFCZu

RCA ‎– JD-13617

A	Human Touch (Extended Mix)	7:17
B	Human Touch (Instrumental)	5:01

Big Country – Harvest Home (12″)

Released exactly 37 years ago!!! The debut release from Big Country.

Making guitar sound unlike anything before. This was an early recording with the classic line-up of Bass, Vocals – Tony Butler, Drums, Vocals – Mark Brzezicki, Guitar, Vocals – Bruce Watson and Lead Vocals, Guitar – Stuart Adamson (R.I.P.) Produced by Chris Thomas it still sounds a bit different with the melodic bass and octopus drumming , almost XTC in it’s pastoral lyrical content, a protest of wealth disparity (Did you hear the synth whistle?)

B-sides definitely reveal a quirky New Wave sound. “Balcony” is a brooding track about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It is very different almost like a track from Adamson’s previous band The Skids. It managed to get played in the film “Against All Odds”

Synths are lurking under the guitars and also some electronic drums – and mad laughter!! The Horror!!!

And here they are! On the final B-side “Flag Of Nations” – sequencers and synths share the room with Butler’s bass and chorused guitars. Very Joy Division / New Order – pure krautrock.

NEW LINK 2022

https://gofile.io/d/Kd0ToV

Phonogram ‎– COUNT 12

A	Harvest Home	3:47
B1	Balcony	4:00
B2	Flag Of Nations (Swimming)	4:38

Early 80’s Week! (Pre – ’85)

The Theme for Next Week.

Soooooo nothing after 1985, fewer mixes and some classics. Please like and please comment because it’s sometimes like flogging a dead horse when you don’t get feedback.

Various – Alternative Hits Of The 80’s (CD)

Don’t let the typical , overused title put you off, this is an unusual compilation with some previously unheard mixes by some not very “Alternative” 80’s Stars. Are they re-recordings ? Bootlegs ? Unreleased mixes. I’m not sure but it should be called “An Alternative Listen To Some 80’s Hits.”

Here’s a track rundown. There are no licensing detail or info on the various tracks and they are all quite short.

Opening with a HoJo’s “No One Is To Blame” – sounding like a modern, semi-acoustic, live sounding re-recording, Robin Bolt playing his guitar next to the tight harmonies and the fab piano.

Animotion are next with quite a short “Club Mix” of “Obsession” – it maybe the 7″ or an edit. Love the mix of Rock and guitar and the duet vocals.

Bow Wow Wow’s “I Want Candy” is a definite modern remix, thrashy guitars, rave synths and hard, industrial beats over the familiar lyric. Having Shazammed it, it turns out to be Razed In Black’s industrial reinterpretation.

Next up is Missing Persons “Destination Unknown” the TV Mania Mix. From 1999 album, “Remixed Hits” TV Mania turns out to be Nick Rhodes and Warren Cuccurullo , so that’s why it is a quality mix!!

Berlin are here with a Trip Hop remix of “Take My Breath Away” by……….roll the drums…..The Mission (or Mission UK) gnarling old Goth’s do a splendid job, well Wayne Hussey did. From the 2000 album, Greatest Hits Remixed, another great track.

The very “Alternative” Kajagoogoo’s “Too Shy” gets what I think is a re-record, hard to tell. Any Limahl fans out there ?

Go West’s “King Of Wishful Thinking” is a live version, proving Mr. Cox is and can still belt it out. Good Brass section too!

Shazam again to find out that it was Industrialists, Die Krupps that dabble in Flock Of Seagull’s classic “I Ran” – off one of those numerous Cleopatra Records remix compilation from the late 90’s. So throbbing electro industrial beats and another good effort!!

Gary Numan’s “Car” is a live version, so sounds a little bit fresher and different, especially with Pino’s Palladino bass.

Howard Jones closes proceedings with “Everlasting Love” is a definite re-recording, probably off the same album as the opening track. Re-recording probably because of licensing issues.

https://workupload.com/file/Lc6SbdWx

http://www.mediafire.com/file/j6peta7qf99kck6/ALTERN%257E1.rar/file

 

Naked Eyes ‎– (What) In The Name Of Love (US 12″)

Your Weekly Arthur Baker fix!!!

Some later stuff by Naked Eyes and the very Thompson Twins sounding “(What) In The Name Of Love” mmmm, it is very similar to “In The Name Of Love” , especially on the 7″ version. It makes for an uncomfortable listen.

Drum sticks at the ready to hit those Octopads. Plenty of Edits by The Latin Rascals on track 2. Made In England for the Clubs of New York.

https://workupload.com/file/z8WBQr2e

https://www.mediafire.com/file/wqvmquv09nrezwl/Naked_Eyes_-_What_In_The_Name_Of_Love_-_US_12%27%27_Vinyl_Mixes_-_1984_MP3.rar/file

EMI America ‎– V-7832

A	(What) In The Name Of Love (Extended Version)	6:03
B1	(What) In The Name Of Love (Instrumental)	6:00
B2	(What) In The Name Of Love (Single Version)	3:50

Sunday Silly Song – 49 – Until December – Call Me (US 12″)

From 1986 and already featured earlier on in the week we get quite a decent cover of the Blondie Classic- faithfully reproduced, the guitar is just as good and I like the added synths and the Doctor Who bassline, both mixes by Joseph Watts.

“Free Again – Live Hooker Mix” is a heavier guitar track with a sprinkle of synths and a Killing Joke bassline. A little Faith No More, a little grunge. The other mix features the legendary Sylvester on guest vocals. More percussive and with female backing singers, I like the mix of styles. Both produced by Ken Kessie.

NEW LINK 2023

https://store2.gofile.io/download/4e888bbc-e7e2-4107-900a-9d682f650485/Until%20December%20-%20Call%20Me%20%26%20Free%20Again%20-%20US%2012”%20Vinyl%20Mixes%20-%201986%20%20MP3.rar

Columbia ‎– 44-06768

	Dis Side
A1	Call Me (12″ Version)	4:47
A2	Call Me (13″ Version)	5:23
	Daddy Side
B1	Free Again (“My Sin” – Sylvester Mix)	5:01
B2	Free Again (“Touch Me” – Live Hooker Mix)	4:15

Depeche Mode ‎– Strangelove (Promo 12″)

The famous DANCE BONG 13 for your perusal in both MP3 and FLAC, from Mike B who managed to get a copy but does not own the vinyl which can demand a three figure sum!!

It weird with all the reissues and box sets that stuff can still get left off. The reason this was not included was not because of Daniel Miller’s excellent “Blind Mix” but because of Phil Harding’s “The Fresh Ground Mix” which samples Cameo’s “Word Up” and never got clearance.

The Blind Mix uses slightly different percussion and has a harder edge to it, especially the start.

The Harding mix is slightly different using layered beats and a duel bass sound. Cameo rap over the top of Martin’s guitar riff in places, (well for a few seconds) more annoying than innovative.

It’s over 500 meg’s – a reason I try not to do much FLAC uploads!!

NEW LINK 2022

mp3 (only)

https://gofile.io/d/0OPWvo

Mute ‎– DANCE BONG 13

A	Strangelove (Blind Mix)	6:37
B	Strangelove (The Fresh Ground Mix)	8:07

Berlin – “Close To Me” – Richard Blade Interview and Studio Performance.

Recorded from the !st Wave SiriusXM Show from August 2 2019. A good insight into what the band are up to now. Touring with The B-52’s and OMD it seems – (which has just finished.) Their legacy, the falling out and about their new album.

Quite interesting with an audience of fans hanging on every word. They perform a short set of past favourites and current stuff.

NEW LINK 2023

https://gofile.io/d/Cn5dJM

As they were

Tour Poster

Cetu Javu ‎– Have In Mind (US 12″)

German quartet from Hannover give us some old style Depeche/OMD vibes from 1989 with a strong environmental message. The line-up was Christian Demere, Javier Revilla-Diez, Stefan Engelke and Torsten Engelke.

Leading off with the cowbell and sampled bass on the main track. It is a very good synthpop sound. Here’s some of the lyrics

“Rivers from the mountainside

Become polluted, don’t try to deny

Remember the times when fish were alive

And realize what you need in life”

Second track is the HiNRG sounding semi-instrumental remix of “China Girl” done by one of my favourite bands, Greater Than One (G.T.O) Again plenty of nice, old skool sounds – like something off DM’s “Speak And Spell.”

Third track “Quiero Verte” (I Want To See You) is sung in Spanish, again a very early 80’s Synthpop sound.

The last track is another mix of the opener, starting with plenty of harmonies and a eurodance pretensions, all quite primitive sounding for ’88. Were they being deliberately Retro in the late 80’s ?

https://workupload.com/file/Tz5NyLpr

https://www.mediafire.com/file/9cpbdgzvnznkzdj/Cetu_Javu_-_Have_In_Mind_-_US_12%27%27_Vinyl_Mixes_-_1989__MP3.rar/file

ZYX Records ‎– ZYX 6053-12

A1	Have In Mind (Kalimba Mix)	5:29
A2	China Girl (G.T.O. Mix)	3:39
B1	Quiero Verte!	4:53
B2	Have In Mind (Extended Mix)	4:20

Oingo Boingo – The MCA Years – Part 2 – (3 x 12″)

From 1987 and covered with Synclavier is this quick tempo-ed dance track. The horns and muscianship is still there. This an extremely rare 12″. Remixed by Boris Granich and  Christer Modig (Swedish Chris) (The Powermixers) with Paul Brown, taking out quite a lot of the guitars on the dance mix. An alternative Wedding song ?

http://www.mediafire.com/file/h1cctul80ti5drn/Oingo_Boingo_-_Not_My_Slave_-_US_12%2527%2527_Vinyl_Mixes_-__1987__MP3.rar/file

https://workupload.com/file/dQTduBQm

MCA Records ‎– MCA-23752

A	Not My Slave (Club Dub Mix)	7:40
B	Not My Slave (Extended Remix)	5:52

From 1989 and the calmer paced and groovy track , until it bursts into a huge chorus section. Another rare promo from the US , they didn’t release much stuff in the UK. From the soundtrack of “Ghostbusters II” “Give Up The Ghost” is a repeated line. It later appeared on the 1990 album, “Dark At The End of The Tunnel” It has a slight Caribbean feel to it, with chiming Jupiter 8’s and the extended version goes into a jungle vibe.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/9vqujxqaec8g8e3/Oingo_Boingo_-_Flesh_%26_Blood_-_US_12%27%27_Promo_Vinyl_Mixes_-__1989__MP3.rar/file

https://workupload.com/file/uwggxHFe

MCA Records ‎– L33-18005

A	Flesh And Blood (Extended Version)	5:39
B1	Flesh And Blood (Instrumental)	4:06
B2	Flesh And Blood (7″ Version)	4:05

Your weekly dose of Arthur Baker !!!

Dipping our toes into 1990 now and you can immediately tell because of the amount of mixes you get on a single 12″ – 6 here to choose from.

A bit like an electronic Crowded House on the “Power Mix” and the truest version of a great song.

Unfortunately the Funky Drummer mixes use that overused drum loop, shame but Arthur Baker still tries to make it interesting adding a deep bass and plenty of chopping edits by Omar Santana. The Funky Vocal is okay, some nice synth strings.

Oingo Boingo go ECO – House on the B-side.

The  Madonna Vogue deep bass and House beats are on all these mixes. “Environmental Mix” has all the Jungle animal samples but hardly any vocals, The “Outer Control Dub” is a bit overlong but has some good drops and some vocal clips. The “Fingertips Vocal” adds the vocals and takes the best from the other 2 previous mixes.

 

https://workupload.com/file/Sg9BuVaz

https://www.mediafire.com/file/nx009cu200qhc8y/Oingo_Boingo_-_Out_Of_Control_-_US_12%27%27_Vinyl_Mixes_-__1990__MP3.rar/file

MCA Records ‎– MCA-24022

A1	Out Of Control (Funky Vocal Mix)	7:14
A2	Out Of Control (Funky Drummer Dub)	5:42
A3	Out Of Control (Power Mix)	4:17
B1	Out Of Control (Fingertips Vocal Mix)	7:35
B2	Out Of Control (Outer Control Dub)	9:01
B3	Out Of Control (Environmental Mix)	4:46