Bizarrely I didn’t even know he was an Aussie!!! Always having dabbled in the electronica side of Rock this is a big chorus track from 1987 and off the LP of the same name.

All sample gimmicks on the 12″ and Big drums thanks to the remix by Bruce Forest and Frank Heller. (with edits by Herbie Powers Jnr.) It even mentions the Akai sampler on the Dub title. It’s almost Jackson-esque !!

https://www106.zippyshare.com/v/gYtBtK7w/file.html

RCA Victor ‎– 8315-1-RD

Rare rock with a funk edge from American quartet What Is This. Released in 1985 they were signed to MCA but after all the hype sank without a trace.

Comprising of Alain Johannes (Chilean multi-instrumentalist) , Hillel Slovak (the original guitarist of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers), Jack Irons (drummer with Pearl Jam) and Michael Balzary ( bassist Flea from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers)

This was produced by Todd Rundgren who had championed them. “Dreams Of Heaven” does have a RHCP feel to it. It includes a bizarre cover of The Spinners, “I’ll Be Around” !!!! In a melodic rock style. A more of a rock-out can be heard on ” Mind My Have Still I” – a bit of The Doors coming through.

As a bonus we get the studio version of that cover as well as a rockier mix and even a dance mix done by David Leonard.

An interesting curiosity.

https://www27.zippyshare.com/v/cLhLwi9x/file.html

MCA Records ‎– MCA-39041

And here is the old fossil himself…..

I actually had forgotten about this release from 1987! From the album “Primitive Cool”, the old mix of tech and guitars raises it’s head again, even more on this track !! Well it was produced by Eurythmics David A. Stewart and mixed by Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero. There is a touch of Springsteen’s “Glory Days” in the riff. But it is quite synth led particularly on the Dance Mix.  A distinguished set of session players appear, Omar Hakim on drums, Dean Garcia (Curve) on bass, backing vocals include Jocelyn Brown, Brenda King, Craig Derry and Cindy Mizelle. David Sanborn on sax and Jeff Beck on guitar.

B-side “Catch As Catch Can” sounds like an old Stones track, a slow bluesy rocker with a horn section and probably quite rare.

https://www42.zippyshare.com/v/m1eBFPle/file.html

Columbia ‎– 44 06926

Frontman from the J Geils Band, Peter Wolf forged out a successful solo career and released this in 1987 from his LP “Come As You Are.” Produced by Eric “E.T.” Thorngren who adds a bit of synth sparkle here and there to modernize the traditional rock sound. B side , LP track “Mama Said” does more rock synth mixing.

Like Mick Jagger doing “Footloose” !

More Wolf here

https://myvinyldreams.wordpress.com/2017/08/05/peter-wolf-%e2%80%8e-lights-out-us-12/

and here

https://myvinyldreams.wordpress.com/2017/10/10/peter-wolf-%e2%80%8e-come-as-you-are-us-12/

https://www19.zippyshare.com/v/E0OjKXbl/file.html

EMI America ‎– V-19243

Skewed French/American alternative rock from Cult band, Passion Fodder. Led by the charismatic author and artist Theo Hakola (vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, dulcimer), Nicolas Magat (drums) , Bénédicte Villain (violin), Pascal Humbert (bass, guitar and in the baand 16 Horsepower), Lionel Dollet (guitar, organ, piano)

Produced by Theo and engineered by a very young Simon Osbourne this has a Swamp stomp feel to it, with I guess real Spoons being rattled together amongst the tremelo guitar.

Slide guitar makes an appearance on the excellent “Dirt” as well as violin that segues into the military beat on “God…” WARNING chaotic guitar, violin noise!

https://www79.zippyshare.com/v/qWcW513a/file.html

Beggars Banquet ‎– BEG 191T

A little bit belated but in memory of the great Aretha Franklin who sadly died this week. May she join the other great Diva’s to become leader of the Heavenly Choir.

Released in 1983 by Scritti Politti I’m not sure if it is any different from the UK 12″ but Mike posted this through as a sort of tribute.

This was a Worldwide smash thanks to all the pristine production and use of samples. With additional bass by Will Lee, guitar by Paul Jackson amd HUGE drums by Steve Ferrone (now drummer with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers) – and you thought it was all samples!

The “Version” is always my favourite cut, but what the song means I’ve not a clue!!

https://www46.zippyshare.com/v/izXBYfkv/file.html

Warner Bros. Records ‎– 0-20417

Back with more guitar stuff from the little heard of Dublin group, Blue In Heaven. This was their ’86 LP “Explicit Material” sounding a bit like the Bunnymen mixed with The Church.

Line-up includes singer/guitarist Shane O’Neil, Declan Jones on bass, Eamonn Tynan on guitar and Dave Clarke (drums and went on to be in the Hothouse Flowers) Like a lot of successful Irish bands they started on U2’s Mother Records then got signed to Island. This was produced by  Chris Blackwell and Eric Thorngren and has a liberal sprinkle of synth keyboards over the top of the rocky guitar. These contrast with the more punky tracks,  Shane’s avowed Iggy fixation comes through on the grungy “Be Your Man.”  Highlights include the Goth rocker, “I Just Wanna” the energetic “Rolling In The Crowd” with their signature, strong bassline.

https://www116.zippyshare.com/v/wa3PcHJK/file.html

Island Records ‎– 7 90511-1