I bought the double pack 7" single of Everyday Living on the strength of the title track and having the 12" mixes of Move Me and Well Well Well on the bonus vinyl. Rounding out the package on Side 2 was a track, singularly titled Why, which I'd never heard before.
Both the 7" A- and B-sides were remixed by the band with Adrian Sherwood. Both were good songs, the latter a fairly sedate chugger with crashing percussion but no hint of it's subsequent future as a Balearic classic.
I've never been to Ibiza so I missed the opportunity to hear the song played out there. However, the first inkling I had that Why Why Why was so much more than a B-side was hearing 1987's Live Hypnobeat Live album. Here, the acoustic strum and Rolo McGinty's insistent vocals come to the fore, creating an uptempo rhythm that drummer Benny Staples follows. Staples was a co-writer, along with Rolo and guitarist Simon Mawby, and it's a fascinating example of how the song evolved from it's studio origins to those exploratory live performances.
The video heading this post is from a later live performance at the Dominion Theatre in London circa 1988. It stretches Why Why Why out even further to over seven minutes but not a second is extraneous. Makes me wish I'd been there back in the day, it ust have been an incredible experience.
I've included three other versions of Why Why Why, starting with Adrian Sherwood's extended mix from the 12" single, just under eight minutes of On-U goodness.
Next up is the Balearic Re-Edit by Tony Johns & Dave Boreham, which appears to date from 1988 but I'm not sure if it had a release prior to it's appearance on the (excellent) Before During After compilation in 2013. Still sounds pretty fresh to these aging ears in 2023.
Last up and a first time discovery when putting this post together is A WTF Acid Dub Remix, one of eight commissioned by and released on Wall Of Sound in 2016. Despite the obvious interpretation, WTF is in fact an acronym for the remixers, Dan Wainwright and Trevor Fung. Trevor is a legendary DJ and key player in the Balearic movement of the late 1980s, whilst Dan has been a regular on this site for his glorious 21st century take on psychedelic electronica. The pair strip the song - and tempo - right back, with Rolo's vocal pared down to a titular chant and "are you ready now?".
Admittedly, none of the remixes can match the live performances but it's wonderful to see Why Why Why - and The Woodentops - continue to inspire three decades later.
The Woodentops were one of the finest bands in the mid 80's for me. Rolo was able to write timeless songs. As you said the live version can't be beaten but in every version you can hear the greatness of these songs.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Walter, I couldn't agree more.
DeleteSomewhere along the way, I've picked up (almost certainly from a blog), an amazing instrumental take on Why Why Why that's called 'Balearic Militant Dub'.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's a great mix by Italian legends Leo Mas & Fabrice. It's on the same Wall Of Sound 12" from 2016 as the 'A WTF Acid Dub Remix' featured above.
DeleteI don't have the 12" so I've definitely picked it up from a blog. The smart money's on Swiss Adam and Bagging Area.