Double Dub '85

When posting the first Dub '85 selection in January, following on from Dub '83 in September 2023, I said that I would eventually get around to Dub '84. 

Today is not that day, however, as I revisit 1985 for another dozen dubs of popular hits (well, some of them were popular, anyway).

By the mid-80s, 12" remixes and dubs had become the norm to the extent that even James Brown and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts were getting in on the act. And, believe it or not, this is the first time that Red Hot Chili Peppers have appeared on this blog. 

Others like Pet Shop Boys, Big Audio Dynamite, Bangles and Talking Heads are much more familiar round these parts. I've included Swing Out Sister but you've been spared Simply Red on this occasion.

 

Oh, and I've managed to string out this week's ad-hoc German theme for one more day, by including Gina X and Zeus B. Held.

I dug (or should that be dubbed?) myself into a hole with the previous couple of Dub posts, by providing a slipshod facsimile of a rather wonderful Saturday morning quiz. Rol's solicitor is sending the heavies round Sunday lunchtime. Oh well, here we go....

1) It will be no surprise that Zeus B. Held, Shep Pettibone, Belouis Some and Gina X are pseudonyms. But which artist's real name is Neville?

2) What is the connection between Swing Out Sister and A Certain Ratio?

3) Which video variously features a pair of flippers, a shuttlecock, a party hat and a bird perched on a doughnut?

4) Which of today's line-up performed at Live Aid?

5) In 1985, which producer/remixer appeared in the pages of The Scum newspaper, photo depicting them smashing their TV with a hammer in protest at Doctor Who being 'rested' by Michael Grade?

Answers will be posted in the Comments below on Sunday morning.

1) Living In America (Dubstramental) (Remix By Dan Hartman): James Brown

2) Hit That Perfect Beat (Instant Dub) (Remix By Ian Levine): Bronski Beat

3) Walking Down Your Street (Dub Version By Steve Beltran): Bangles

4) Hollywood (Africa) (Dub Mix By Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero) (Cover of 'Africa' by The Meters): Red Hot Chili Peppers 

5) No G.D.M. (Dub Version By Zeus B. Held): Gina X

6) A Party (Dub) (Remix By Paul 'Groucho' Smykle) (Edit): Big Audio Dynamite

7) And She Was (Dub) (Remix By Eric 'ET' Thorngren & David Byrne): Talking Heads

8) The Broken Years (Dub) (Remix By Gary Langan): Hipsway

9) West End Dub (Remix By Shep Pettibone): Pet Shop Boys

10) Imagination (Dub Mix By Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero): Belouis Some

11) Blue Mood (Dubbed Up Mix By Paul Staveley O'Duffy): Swing Out Sister

12) Bombs Away (Dub Version By Mark Berry & Mark Richardson) (Cover of 'Cherry Bomb' by The Runaways): Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

Double Dub '85 (1:11:22) (KF) (Mega)

If that's not enough 80s dub for you, I've reposted Dub '85 and Dub '83.

A Lovely Bit Of Squirrel

Friday Night Dinner: 10 Years And A Lovely Bit Of Squirrel aired on Channel 4 last night. Intended as a celebration of the hugely popular sitcom's anniversary, it sadly also became a tribute to actor Paul Ritter, who died on 5th April. Friday Night Dinner ran for six series and 36 episodes plus 1 special, a brilliantly observed comedy with lots of puerile pranks, bizarre behaviour, catchphrases galore (including the inspiration for today's title), laugh out loud moments balanced with moments of pathos and poignancy.

 

It was an emotional 90 minutes, with some classic clips and outtakes, and insights from Robert Popper, who created the show and wrote every single episode, and the cast. Paul Ritter was clearly very ill at this point the interviews were filmed, and it was heartbreaking to see him so unwell but his love and passion for the show shone through. What an incredible and selfless man. The final episode aired in the UK on 1st May 2020, in the early weeks of the first national lockdown and was a welcome salve. The series' availability on streaming services will hopefully ensure that it's popularity and Paul Ritter's comedic brilliance will endure.

Inspired by last night's show, here's a 90 minute sequence of animal related songs, kicking off with the Friday Night Dinner theme and over 21 songs taking you through various musical genres and eventually full circle with a dub-flavoured re-rub of the opening song. As Paul Ritter's character Martin Goodman would frequently exclaim, "Shit on it!"

 

1) Animal (Punks Jump Up Remix): Miike Snow (2009)

2) Animal Magic (Dance Vocal) (Remix By Justin Strauss & Murray Elias): Belouis Some (1987)

3) New Town Animal In A Furnished Cage: XTC (1978)

4) Animals: Talking Heads (1979)

5) How Animals Move: John Parish (2002)

6) We Love Animals (The Love Supreme Remix): Crookers ft. Soulwax & Mixhell (2010)

7) Like An Animal (Album Version): The Glove (1983)

8) March Of The Balloon Animals: Dengue Fever (2009)

9) Animal (New Mix): R.E.M. (2004)

10) Animal Magic (Album Version): The Blow Monkeys (1986)

11) Strangle Your Animal: Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie (1988)

12) Animal Nitrate: Suede (1993)

13) Animals & Men (Album Version): Adam & The Ants (1979)

14) Animal Static (Remix): Grinderman (2007)

15) Party Animal: Luke Vibert & B.J. Cole (2000)

16) Crazy Farm Animal (Single Version): Julian Cope (1989)

17) Do Animals Believe In God?: Pink Military (1980)

18) Strange Animal: Sparks (2008)

19) Animal In The Mirror: Luxuria (1988)

20) Animal Magic: Adrian Sherwood ft. Lee 'Scratch' Perry (2006)

21) Animal (Mark Ronson Extended Dub Remix): Miike Snow (2009)

Animals (1:30:45)

 

Muzik For Hairspray

From my mixtape archives, circa 2000, "a collection of 80s 12" classics"... apart from Pop Muzik, which got to No. 2 in the UK in 1979. 

 

Side One

1) Pop Muzik (Full Length Disco Mix): M (1979)

2) Hot In The City (Exterminator Mix): Billy Idol (1982)

3) Fetish (Extended Version): Vicious Pink (1984)

4) Alphabet Rap (Full Length Album Version): Divine (1982)

5) I Feel Love / Johnnie Remember Me / Love To Love You Baby (Cake Mix): Bronski Beat ft. Marc Almond (1984)

6) She Blinded Me With Science (Extended Version): Thomas Dolby ft. Dr. Magnus Pike (1982)

7) What! (Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing Remix): Soft Cell (1982)

8) Imagination (Dance Mix By Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero): Belouis Some (1985)

 

Side Two

1) Absolute (Version): Scritti Politti (1984)

2) Summer Of Love (Summer Party Mix): The B-52’s (1986)

3) Homosapien (Elongated Dancepartydubmix): Pete Shelley (1981)

4) Crushed By The Wheels Of Industry (Extended Dance Version): Heaven 17 (1983)

5) Heartbeat (Mendlesohn Mix (Long Version): The Psychedelic Furs (1984)

6) New Life (Remix): Depeche Mode (1981)

7) Life's What You Make It (Extended Version): Talk Talk (1986)

 

Side One (45:43) (KF) (Mega)

Side Two (45:56) (KF) (Mega)