Party Down, Rock The House, Burn The Cat...Beware Of Sudden Impact!

It's Friday, time for some rabble rousing!

 

1,315 posts in and I'm still finding plenty of music - and artists - that I've not featured on this blog before. 

 

All songs today come from 1980 or 1985 (and a couple in between), are presented in remixed or extended form and make their debut appearance in a Dubhed selection*.  

 

It's also the first time that The Lotus Eaters and Electric Guitars have featured here, full stop.

Some production heavyweights at the controls: John Leckie, Paul 'Groucho' Smykle, Dave Bascombe, Martin Rushent, Rusty Egan and Bob Sargeant. 

The lyrics are lifted from Sudden Impact! Now, whilst Mick Jones and the lads may be B.A.D., do not take them literally. By all means party down and rock the house, but please don't burn the cat!

 

1) Bankrobber / Robber Dub (12" Version): The Clash (1980)

2) Cruiser's Creek (12" Version): The Fall (1985)

3) Sudden Impact! (12-Inch Mix): Big Audio Dynamite (1985)

4) Ed's Funky Diner (The Keinholz Caper): It's Immaterial ft. The Christians (1985)

5) German Girl (Glasgow Mix): The Lotus Eaters (1984)

6) Language Problems (Extended Version): Electric Guitars (1982)

7) Come Back (White Label Remix): Spear Of Destiny (1985)

8) Psychedelic Rockers (Dubweiser): The Beat (1980)

1980: Black Market Clash: 1

1980: Too Nice To Talk To EP: 8

1982: Language Problems EP: 6

1985: Come Back EP: 7

1985: Cruiser's Creek EP: 2

1985: Ed's Funky Diner EP: 4

2010: This Is Big Audio Dynamite (Legacy Edition): 3

2011: The 12" Collection: 5

Party Down, Rock The House (47:33) (KF) (Mega)

* although Bankrobber / Robber Dub by The Clash appeared here with a variety of versions in August 2023.

Spirits In The Immaterial World

It's Immaterial gems, inspired by a recent catch up with the treasure trove that is the Higher Than The Sun music blog. 

 

Back in the summer, Ricky posted links (currently still live) for the two 'lost albums' recorded by Jarvis Whitehead and John Campbell, works in progress for an intended follow up to 1990 second album Song. 

Fate - and an incredible sequence of unfortunate events - meant that third album House For Sale eventually saw the light of day in 2020 and it was truly magnificent. I shared some of that story, and a couple of 'lost' versions, when my Imaginary Compilation Album featured on The Vinyl Villain on 27th October 2021.

There's something about the earlier versions that really appeals to me too, so it was a delight to be able to plug some of the gaps in the handful that I'd acquired on t'internet in previous years. 

Suitably inspired, a trawl of YT has also unearthed some shining nuggets that deserve to be shared.

Opening up the post, a performance of two songs on BBC2 magazine show Riverside in 1983. The first is called Huzah Huzah Physic Stick, the second the more familiar (to me at least) A Gigantic Raft In The Philippines. The latter was originally released as a single in 1981 and would be again, in re-recorded and remixed form, in 1984. It's a very different sounding band from the It's Immaterial that found fleeting chart fame with Driving Away From Home, but I love the energy of these early songs.

Next up is an hour long interview with John from February 2023, which encompasses his life and career to date, from growing up in Manchester, being in Yachts with Jarvis in the late 70s and four decades of trials and tribulations with It's Immaterial.

 

I'm still working my way through this one in its entirety, having only dipped in and out at various points so far. John is an affable and generous interviewee, but Zoom interviews can be a bit of a slog at the best of times and interviewer Greg makes hard work of it, though he warms up some more towards the end.

TheSoundAgents YT site contains a couple of hidden It's Immaterial treasures. In 1986, Siren Records' A&R Ross Stapleton filmed the band rehearsing for some European gigs. This is a very fine version of Rope, a single from debut album Life's Hard And Then You Die.

In 2016, as a thank you to those who had pledged for the House For Sale album, John shared a snippet of a work in progress song, then titled Manchester Mambo.

Rounding out this selection is Just North Of Here, presented here in it's earlier, 'lost' version, which was posted online in 2010. Just North Of Here made it through to the 2020 release of House For Sale and the album version was the penultimate song on Side 1 of my It's Immaterial ICA. It sounds great, whichever version you listen to.

 

Last Night From Glasgow are keeping the It's Immaterial flame burning. They've already released Life's Hard And Then You Die (via the Past Night From Glasgow imprint); red or white vinyl still available. 

January 2025 will see the release of the complete BBC Sessions on vinyl, 16 tracks covering all four sessions for John Peel between 1981 and 1985. Huzah Huzah Physic Stick, A Gigantic Raft In The Philippines and Rope all feature. 

The BBC Sessions is available to pre-order as a standalone release, or if you're looking for a Christmas gift, it's available a 4-album bundle, along with Sophisticated Boom Boom, Win and China Crisis.

Decade IV: 1986

Side 1 of a cassette compilation, recorded 8th April 1990.

Okay, so we're back with the OG Decade tapes that I compiled in 1990, a new decade and the end of my teens ahead, ten years of life-shaping music behind me.

Time to address the elephant in the room. You may have noticed from the track listing below and in the previous fortnight that the selection leans heavily on alternative, guitar-based music, and very little in the way of club or pop music. 

Yes, I will admit that as well as receiving my first proper Valentine's card and the same person agreeing to be my first proper girlfriend, I was beginning to tap into my inner Goth. I think I bought my first pair of winkle picker boots with shiny buckles around age 15. And the shirts. Oh, the shirts. My local Boots was also doing quite well out of my regular custom for hair gel and hairspray. Yep, I was quite the catch. I don't know what she was thinking.

Anyway, for all that, the parallel story of my teens was also my propensity for a pop song. My nascent record collection happily included the likes of Heaven 17, Bronski Beat, Erasure, Giorgio Moroder with Phil Oakey, Pet Shop Boys, Cameo, Madonna, Propaganda and so on. 

The reason why you're seeing little of that here is that, when I had the idea in 1990 of recording a themed series of mixtapes covering the 1980s, I already had the overarching title, Decade. I also had the thought that there would be a second, parallel series of more club/pop-oriented songs, acknowledging my love of the 12" single and called Decadance (sic). I never got around to recording any of the latter series, but maybe an idea to revisit here one day...

I will also add that whilst I enjoyed a bit of gnarly guitar, I despised Bon Jovi with a passion. No surprise that at school, I was in the minority, as the bobbins hair metallers were especially popular with my female friends. Thankfully, my girlfriend was an exception, in many ways but crucially in her indifference to the hirsute charms of Jon and the lads.

Scene set, here’s the mixtape.

Frankie Goes To Hollywood open up, though a band very much on the downward slide by 1986. I bought the single but more out of a weakening sense of loyalty and I didn't even bother with the accompanying album, Liverpool, at the time. And I echoed the howls of protest when an interview with comic writing legend Alan Moore on Channel 4's The Tube was abruptly cut short to segue to the video of Warriors (Of The Wasteland). It wasn't Frankie's fault of course, but they bore the brunt of my disgruntlement.

John Lydon had made a triumphant return with Public Image Ltd. and the single Rise, ahead of an album that depending on the format you bought was titled 'Album', 'Cassette' or 'Compact Disc' or 'untitled', if you want to be contrary. Co-produced with Bill Laswell, it's big on percussion, like the musical equivalent of a left hook from Mike Tyson (who became the youngest heavyweight champion in history in November 1986, fact fans). I love 'Album' for lots of reasons, and follow up single Home is one of them.

The Godfathers are next in line, matching Tyson's left hook with a piledriver to the head. I bought I Want Everything on 12" and played it loud. My mum understandably hated it. Tick.

I'm not sure my parents were fans of Gene Loves Jezebel but for all their backcombing, lipstick and chiffon, Sweetest Thing was a brilliant pop song. This is one brotherly reunion that isn't likely to happen until hell freezes over, though there's much to love in their early 80s albums. Sweetest Thing only got to #75 in the UK yet Discover reached #32, the only UK Top 40 album in their career.

A perhaps surprising return for Wall Of Voodoo, after their first appearance in 1983. Mexican Radio had a least been a minor hit (#64). Far Side Of Crazy failed to make even that much of an impression, despite the added appeal of 12" B-side Dance You F***ers (the label's censorship, not mine!). I didn't buy this first time around though I acquired Far Side Of Crazy when it was itself included as a B-side to follow single, a cover of The Beach Boys' Do It Again, which fared equally poorly with record buyers in general. Andy Prieboy was now lead singer and it's worth mentioning that former frontman Stan Ridgway had a #4 hit with Camouflage in July 1986. That must have stung a little.

Also on the comeback trail was Iggy Pop, aided and abetted yet again by David Bowie, with a phenomenally successful album, Blah Blah Blah, to boot. Cry For Love was the opening salvo and whilst Iggy enjoyed greater success with the follow up cover of Real Wild Child, I prefer this.

I mentioned earlier that Bronski Beat didn't make it into this series, though Jimmy Somerville's next project does. I thought The Communards was a brilliant next step and the musical partnership with Richard Coles produced some fabulous music, politically charged pop, beautifully arranged and sung, with incisive, insightful lyrics. Disenchanted is perhaps the prime example of this. It could be taken as an update or reflection on Smalltown Boy, though it's many other things too. And that wonderful descending piano chord at the bridge. A shame that The Communards are generally remembered for their 80s revival of disco classics. All hits and all good, but they were so, so much more than that.

Depeche Mode began the second phase of their career in 1986, following the mega-selling Singles 81-85 compilation. Many of my classmates referred to them as 'Depress Mode', though my friend Ady and I were increasingly committed to this new direction. 1986 would bring the Black Celebration album and my first ever live gig, seeing Dave and the lads at the Colston Hall in Bristol. I loved lead single Stripped and I bought the 5-track 12" single without having heard a note of the song. I didn't need to. Still hits the spot, four decades on.

My first proper girlfriend and I shared a love of Talk Talk. The Colour Of Spring and it's attendant singles came out as our young romance was blossoming and so the music inevitably became very special for us both. To be truthful, Give It Up was 'our song' - sadly prescient, given that our relationship lasted mere months - yet I have had an enduring love for Living In Another World as it's arguably the least Talk Talk-like song that they ever recorded. And I love it for that.

After committing the crime of not including either E=MC² or Medicine Show in my 1985 mixtape - all the more unforgivable, as This Is Big Audio Dynamite was one of my favourite albums of that year - here they are at last. C'mon Every Beatbox was released to announce the arrival of second album, No. 10, Upping Street. It's a cracking single, from it's familiar riff on Eddie Cochran's C'mon Everybody, to Sam Sever's deft editing and scratching, to Mick Jones and Don Letts' superb trade offs. The 12" version is even better, even if my vinyl rip is sounding to my ragged ears like it might be running a tad too fast....

My second crime is the paucity of Julian Cope in this series. Apart from his appearance with The Teardrop Explodes in 1981, this side marks the first sample from Julian's solo career. Though what an example! World Shut Your Mouth had been demo'd but never finished before the Teardrops, er, imploded. It then provided the title of Julian's first album in 1984 though omitting the song itself.

World Shut Your Mouth finally saw the light of day at summer's end in 1986, the song beefed up by US producer Ed Stasium, famed for his work with Ramones, and with a remix 12" by fellow Americans Trouble Funk. This was a different Cope for sure: sexy, pouting, leather clad; though the climbing frame mike stand was a sure sign that he was still bonkers as ever. The Saint Julian album also proved to be a huge success (#11 in the UK) and for a brief moment, the world did shut its mouth and pay attention. 

Another hugely underrated and underappreciated act is It's Immaterial. Driving Away From Home had been a surprise Top 20 hit in April 1986 and the record label reasonably thought that Ed's Funky Diner, a flop single in 1985 yet an equally brilliant and quirky song, deserved another shot. 

As before, Ed's Funky Diner was given the full format treatment: 7", 7" double pack with an extra single, 12", limited edition remix 12". It did better than before, though by better I mean a peak of #65. Their debut album got a few places higher and that was the end of the band as a chart-troubling entity. Thankfully, despite a series of unfortunate events in the intervening decades, It's Immaterial are actively recording and releasing music in the 21st century and the world is a better place for it.

1) Warriors (Of The Wasteland) (Single Version): Frankie Goes To Hollywood

2) Home (Single Version): Public Image Ltd.

3) I Want Everything (Single Version): The Godfathers

4) Sweetest Thing (Album Version): Gene Loves Jezebel

5) Far Side Of Crazy (Remix): Wall Of Voodoo

6) Cry For Love (7 Inch Edit): Iggy Pop

7) Disenchanted (Album Version): The Communards

8) Stripped (Single Version): Depeche Mode

9) Living In Another World (Single Version): Talk Talk

10) C'mon Every Beatbox (Extended Vocal Version): Big Audio Dynamite

11) World Shut Your Mouth (Album Version): Julian Cope

12) Ed's Funky Diner (Album Version): It's Immaterial

12th January 1986: Seven Days In Sammystown (# n/a): 5

23rd February 1986: Black Celebration (#15): 8

16th March 1986: The Colour Of Spring (#48): 9

23rd March 1986: Discover (#75): 4

27th April 1986: Album (#75): 2

1st June 1986: Communards (#29): 7

3rd August 1986: Life's Hard And Then You Die (#65): 12

7th September 1986: Sun Arise / I Want Everything EP (# n/a): 3

12th October 1986: No. 10, Upping St. (#51): 10

19th October 1986: Saint Julian (#19): 11

26th October 1986: Blah Blah Blah (# n/a): 6

23rd November 1986: Liverpool (#19): 1

Side One (46:19) (GD) (M)

Return To The Acoustic Tent

This time last year in the post-Glastonbury comedown, I posted a 45-minute acoustic selection. Never one to claim any original thought whatsoever, here I am again with another 13-song selection for 2023.

None of the artists here featured in last year's selection and whilst some of the artists' acoustic turns may not be a surprise - I'm thinking particularly of Turin Brakes and The Pictish Trail - there are some playing against type, namely Dua Lipa*, Seal, Moby and A Man Called Adam.

Terry Hall sounds great in any musical setting, of course, but I think the version of Ballad Of A Landlord is an especially fine showcase for his wonderful voice and songwriting. His absence is still keenly felt.

 

Compared to 2022, I've been very slack in my Glastonbury viewing: so far, only Billy Nomates, Fever Ray, Los Bitchos and Working Men's Club; all excellent, but lots to catch up with before the BBC iPlayer axe falls. Then again, if the sun's shining... 

 

* You might guess from the song title acronym, but a potty mouth advisory for Ms. Lipa if you're playing this within range of sensitive ears.

1) Pure (Acoustic Version): Lightning Seeds (1995)

2) Pain Killer (RTL2 Acoustic Version): Turin Brakes (2003)

3) Lovely Daughter (Acoustic): Merz (2007)

4) IDGAF (Acoustic): Dua Lipa (2018)

5) Crazy (Acoustic Version): Seal (1991)

6) Acoustic Guitar: The Magnetic Fields ft. Claudia Gonson (1999)

7) Tell Me (Toronto Acoustic Version): Moby ft. Cold Specks (2013)

8) Jewel (Acoustic): Cranes (1996)

9) Barefoot In The Head (Acoustic Edit): A Man Called Adam (2004)

10) Nuclear Sunflower Swamp (Acoustic): The Pictish Trail (2022)

11) Ballad Of A Landlord (Acoustic Version): Terry Hall (1997)

12) Just Drive (Acoustic Version): It's Immaterial (2002)

13) Another Sinful Day (Acoustic): Little Axe (1995)

 

1994: Prayer For The Dying EP: 5 

1995: Another Sinful Day EP: 12

1996: WRAS 88.5 Presents: Radio Oddyssey: 8 

1997: Ballad Of A Landlord EP: 11

1999: 69 Love Songs: 6

2002: The Great Liverpool Acoustic Experiment: 12

2003: Ether Song (ltd 2x CD):: 2 

2004: Barefoot In The Head EP: 9

2006: The Very Best Of The Lightning Seeds: 1

2007: Merz (Expanded Edition) (2x CD): 3

2013: Amazon Artist Lounge EP: 7

2018: IDGAF EP: 4

2022: EarthPercent x Earth Day Compilation Album: 10

 

Return To The Acoustic Tent (46:16) (KF) (Mega) 

You can find last year's Acoustic Tent selection here

Senza Voce

...or 'without voice' (thank you, Google translate), which sums up today's selection of instrumental songs, stripped of their usually familiar vocals bar the odd sample, whoop and ad lib here and there.

When trawling for ideas for a cover image, I was reminded of the rather bizarre primary school ritual of 'fingers on lips'. Teachers obviously considered us such a wild, unruly, feral lot that simply telling us to be quiet wasn't enough, we had to seal the deal by placing a digit on our mouth and hold it there until we were deemed worthy of voice again. What a strange instruction. 

 

No surprise that Shane MacGowan would struggle with this into adulthood, Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17 seems similarly resistant but you can rely on ol' Madge, although she's unsurprisingly adopting the role of teacher not pupil here.

For anyone feeling anxiety before casting their eyes down at the track list, I can reassure you that Hush by Kula Shaker does not appear in any shape or form. There is Simply Red, but DJ Muggs has done us all the favour of removing Mick Hucknall altogether...along with pretty much the whole band, by the sound of things.

The selection starts with the opening track of Madonna's 1998 album Ray Of Light, albeit with no trace of Ms. Ciccone's dulcet tones. From there, we go past Simply Red to Tears For Fears reading Sylvia Plath, winding our way into Hell's Ditch where we find The Pogues and Joe Strummer.

Love And Rockets lend a hand out of the ditch with an instrumental version of If There's A Heaven Above, re-titled God And Mr. Smith, before Frazier Chorus give us a lift the rest of the way there until The KLF point out that we're actually about 30 miles southwest of Glasgow 3 miles north of Manchester [note; thanks for the save, Charity Chic, I don't think anyone noticed!]

 

Renegade Soundwave riff on Serge Gainsbourg with their eponymous 1994 single, crashing into Yo La Tengo's motel room in the wee hours of the morning with Jah Wobble and Animal (Dave Maltby, not the Muppets drummer). 

 

Crawling out of the room the following morning, we find Pete Wylie slumped against a wall, with a note pinned to his chest explaining that L'Espwah! is French for Hope (I Wish You'd Believe Me). I got a D in my French 'O' Level, so I don't have a clue what he means. 

 

No-Man promise fun Days In The Trees but we're distracted by The Wolfgang Press arguing with the vicar about Christianity outside the local church. We ditch the both of them and head back with Heaven 17. I'm hungry and fancy noodles but all we get is a noodly Fairlight and System 100 Simulated Classical Guitar instrumental of The Skin I'm In, which does little for my appetite.

Depeche Mode try to convince us that It Doesn't Matter but having had enough of them all, we head off with It's Immaterial to find some Space. Peace at last, and it only took an hour.

 

1) Drowned World / Substitute For Love (Instrumental Version By Madonna & William Orbit): Madonna (1998)

2) Never Never Love (DJ Muggs Instrumental Mix): Simply Red (1996)

3) Johnny Panic And The Bible Of Dreams (Instrumental): Tears For Fears (1990)

4) Hell's Ditch (Instrumental Version By Joe Strummer & Paul Cobbold): The Pogues (1990)

5) God And Mr. Smith (Instrumental Version): Love And Rockets (1985)

6) Heaven (God Like Instrumental) (Remixed By Youth): Frazier Chorus (1990)

7) Prestwich Prophet's Grin (Instrumental Remix) (120 BPM): The KLF (1988) 

8) Renegade Soundwave (7" Instrumental): Renegade Soundwave (1994) 

9) From A Motel 6 #2 (Instrumental Version): Yo La Tengo (1993)

10) A Long, Long Way (Instrumental): Jah Wobble with Animal (1982) 

11) L'Espwah! (Instrumental Version By Mike Hedges & Pete Wylie): Wah! (1983)

12) Days In The Trees (Bach) (Instrumental Version By Steven Wilson): No-Man (1991)

13) Christianity (Instrumental Remix By Drostan Madden & Howard Gray): The Wolfgang Press (1995)

14) Skin (Instrumental Mix By Greg Walsh & Martyn Ware): Heaven 17 (1984)

15) It Doesn't Matter Two (Instrumental): Depeche Mode (1986)

16) Space (Instrumental Remix By Bert Bevans): It's Immaterial (1986)

 

1982: A Long, Long Way EP: 10

1983: Hope (I Wish You'd Believe Me) EP: 11 

1984: This Is Mine EP: 14

1985: If There's A Heaven Above EP: 5 

1986: A Question Of Lust EP: 15

1986: Space EP: 16

1988: Burn The Beat (USA 12") / Shag Times: 7

1990: Advice For The Young At Heart EP: 3

1990: Ray / The Baby Album (ltd 2x CD): 6

1990: Summer In Siam EP: 4

1994: Renegade Soundwave EP: 8

1995: Christianity EP (USA promo CDS): 13

1996: Genius + Love = Yo La Tengo: 9

1996: Never Never Love EP: 2

1998: Ray Of Light (Instrumentals) (bootleg): 1

2001: Lost Songs: Volume One: 12

 

Senza Voce (1:00:37) (KF) (Mega)

Alien Attack!

Side 2 of a cassette compilation, featuring some indie - and not-so-indie - tunes, recorded 22nd July 1998.

 

Tenuous link(s) time: 

 

1) Today's photo is a TV screen grab of a scene from 1982 film The Soldier, which grabbed my attention in a late-hours/should-have-gone-to-bed moment solely because the credits mentioned the soundtrack music was by Tangerine Dream. I sat through the film (I may have had a couple of micro sleeps in between) and coming to a realisation at the end that at least it was an hour and a half of my life I wouldn't have to repeat. The film's tenuous link to today's mixtape title is that whilst there clearly is an attack (one of many), there are zero aliens from start to finish. Putting aliens in the film may have actually helped.

2) Previous Friday selections have often tried to get the party started, with some upbeat music, daring some times with some actual disco (never a particularly popular choice, it seems). Today's tenuous link to Friday music is that the selection includes a song by Gavin Friday. I'm not expecting any comments that this selection has generated an uncontrollable urge to conga into the streets, banging a saucepan with a wooden spoon, whooping with delight and urging your neighbours to join the line.

For all that, much to enjoy, I hope. A couple of big hitters with Radiohead and The Smashing Pumpkins, a couple of off-shoot projects with The Sea Nymphs (Cardiacs) and Black Box Recorder (Luke Haines/The Auteurs), a couple from the 1980s with My Bloody Valentine and It's Immaterial and one 1970s alternative classic from Big Star.

 

Other than that, it's mid-late 1990s all the way with Stereolab, Leila, the aforementioned Gavin Friday, The High Llamas and The Wolfgang Press.   

 

Now, excuse me whilst I go and find a saucepan and wooden spoon, I've got me some whooping and a-hollering and, er, conga-ing to do...

 

1) (Nice Dream) (Album Version): Radiohead (1995)

2) Monstre Sacre: Stereolab (1996)

3) No More Sorry: My Bloody Valentine (1988)

4) Eye: The Smashing Pumpkins (1996)

5) Misunderstood (Album Version): Leila ft. Donna Paul (1998)

6) Dolls: Gavin Friday (1995)

7) The Sweet Life: It's Immaterial (1986)

8) Christ Alive: The Sea Nymphs (1995)

9) Showstop Hip Hop (Edit): The High Llamas (1997)

10) Kanga Roo: Big Star (1975)

11) Ideal Home: Black Box Recorder (1998)

12) Chains (Album Version): The Wolfgang Press ft. Claudia Fontaine (1995)

 

1975: 3rd: 10

1986: Life's Hard And Then You Die: 7

1988: Isn't Anything: 3

1995: The Bends: 1

1995: Funky Little Demons: 12

1995: The Sea Nymphs: 8

1995: Shag Tobacco: 6

1996: Emperor Tomato Ketchup: 2 

1996: Lost Highway OST: 4

1998: England Made Me: 11

1998: In-Car Stereo (Melody Maker promo CD): 9

1998: Like Weather: 5

 

Side Two (46:43) (Box) (Mega)

Positively Apricating

The extremely dedicated Lol-Z has uploaded every episode of legendary UK music show The Tube to YouTube, over 100 of them, originally broadcast on Channel 4 from 1982 to 1987. It seems to have taken the best part of half a year to do it and there's no telling how long they'll remain before "The Man" takes them down, but make the most of this treat/rabbit hole in the meantime.

 

I've selected one of the last episodes from the final series in 1987. The series wasn't essential viewing for me at this point and I'd dip in and out occasionally, but I remember this one particularly for the fleeting appearance of It's Immaterial, which I wrote about last October. There are couple of great live performances from Maxi Priest and The Comsat Angels, too.

However, if you only watch one bit for a flavour of the show's eclecticism and brilliance, then skip to Jools Holland's less then seamless segue from Prince's video for Sign "☮" The Times to a typically atypical performance from Edward Barton. This is worth the price of admission alone and supplies today's post title. I had to look up 'apricating', it means "basking in the sun"...which I'm not, currently writing this in January when it's cold and dark.

The Tube (Series 5, Episode 19, originally transmitted 20th March 1987)

Bevans Above!

Another 12"/80s selection for the weekend, the common thread being that all of the songs have been remixed by legendary DJ Bert Bevans. This one is dedicated to Echorich, whose comment on a previous post inspired this and who is currently moving home... fingers crossed it's going as well as expected and best wishes in your new place!

The remix of Space by It's Immaterial is my favourite version of the song, and arguably the same goes for the Pete Wylie, Paul Weller and Depeche Mode selections. Even those that aren't the definitive versions (for me) - Big Audio Dynamite and Vicious Pink - are still pretty good. As for the rest, these are pretty much the only versions of the songs that I know.

Today's selection comes with a health warning as tracks 4 & 5 feature former members of The Beatles and Queen. The latter also apparently featured in the 1986 film Biggles and the video is notable only for featuring Peter Cushing's last on-screen appearance. It's Immaterial's Space video is much, much better.

You can also find a clutch of uplifting Bert Bevans DJ sets on his Soundcloud page. Highly recommended.

1) Roses (Extended U.S. Remix): Haywoode (1986)

2) Money-Go-Round (Dance Mix): The Style Council (1983)

3) Diamond Girl Oh! Diamond Girl (Super Solitaire Sublime Mix): Pete Wylie ft. The Fabulous Josie Jones (1986)

4) Press (Bevans & Forward Dub Mix): Paul McCartney (1986)

5) No Turning Back (The Joy-Stick Mix): The Immortals (1986)

6) Soul Deep (Club Mix): The Council Collective (1984)

7) Flexible (Pre-Deportation Mix): Depeche Mode (1985)

8) Cccan't You See... (Exxxx-tended Re-mixxx): Vicious Pink (1985)

9) Sinful! (The Wickedest Mix In Town): Pete Wylie ft. The Oedipus Wrecks (1986)

10) E=MC² (70mm Wide Screen Mix): Big Audio Dynamite (1985)

11) Dominoes (The Dance Mix): Robbie Nevil (1986)

12) Space, He Called From The Kitchen.... (12" Remix): It's Immaterial (1986) 

 

Bevans Above! (1:19:49) (GD) (M)

199

Yesterday, I had the immense privilege of JC at The Vinyl Villain posting my contribution to the An Imaginary Compilation Album series, this time featuring It's Immaterial. My sixth ICA since August 2020, it was also the 299th ICA in total, a milestone itself in a consistently excellent series. By (near) coincidence, today marks my 199th post on the Dubhed blog, so I thought I'd celebrate with a companion piece on It's Immaterial.

 

I love reading and contributing to the An Imaginary Compilation Album series. It's a good way of discovering or rediscovering artists and bands and personally I've found music that I've either missed altogether or have appreciated when presented in a new light. It's also great to read the contributor's individual and personal take on the featured artist, the song selection and what the music means to them. As a contributor, it's an opportunity to recreate the mixtape experience and, beyond the general ICA rules, impose all sorts of criteria and discipline to the process of curating the collection. Personally, it's a much different undertaking to my frequently 'on the fly' approach to the (currently) daily posting on this blog. Each ICA will take weeks, often months, to put together, as I play around with the song selection and sequencing, 'road testing' it with multiple listens over time before I'm satisfied with the final order, then drafting and honing the accompanying 'sleeve notes'. The basic format and aim remains the same: 10 songs, usually 5 per side, average running time 35-45 minutes; in short, not far removed from a traditional vinyl album set up. Not always intentionally, but I frequently end up dodging the 'hits', going on a deeper dive into album tracks, B-sides and alternative versions.

 

This was pretty much the case with It's Immaterial. I'm pretty pleased with the final ICA, it hangs together well, though the final selection ended up with not one single, not even the big UK hit, Driving Away From Home (Jim's Tune) or any of the the songs that preceded debut album Life's Hard And Then You Die. Time to partially redress that here with a visual companion.

 

The earliest clip I can find on YouTube is a 1983 performance from BBC2's music show Riverside, recorded at the titular studios. It's an excellent quality clip, featuring two songs: Huzza Huzza, which I'd not heard before and I don't think was ever released, and their second single from 1981, A Gigantic Raft In the Philippines, which was re-recorded and re-released in 1984, to similar lack of chart success. The four-piece band is a much different proposition from the core duo of John Campbell and Jarvis Whitehead that evolved just a year later. This performance reminded me a little of contemporary indie bands like Kissing The Pink and it's a compelling performance that, with hindsight, hints at what was to come. 

As I wrote in the ICA sleeve notes, Festival Time was the song that grabbed my attention and hooked me onto It's Immaterial's music back in 1986, but there's no denying that Driving Away From Home (Jim's Tune) is a great single. It's been noted elsewhere that this bears a kinship with Faron Young by Prefab Sprout, released the previous year. Maybe Chris Rea was listening to both songs and was sufficiently inspired a few years later with The Road To Hell. Driving Away From Home reached a peak of #18 in the UK singles charts and I've read somewhere that it's continued ascent was stalled as their record label Siren allegedly misjudged it's potential success and struggled to press sufficient additional copies to meet demand. I'm assuming that, aside from the Festival Time promo clip on Channel 4's The Tube, that Driving Away From Home was the first official It's Immaterial music video.

The success of the single also saw It's Immaterial perform the song on television, including Top Of The Pops the UK and TopPop in the Netherlands. There was also two different 12" versions of the song, one of which I included in one of my 1980s mixtapes, posted in July 2021.

Of the three other singles from Life's Hard And Then You Die, I've been unable to find a video for Rope and I don't recall ever seeing one on TV back in the day. It's a great song, and the extended mix appeared in another of my 1980s 12" mixtape selections in May 2021. The other singles - Ed's Funky Diner and Space - both have engaging and entertaining videos and equally excellent 12" versions. Neither troubled the charts, though Ed's Funky Diner did scrape to #65 on it's second go round in 1986. The song featured backing vocals from The Christians (including former It's Immaterial member Henry Priestman), who went on to enjoy much greater success in their own right.

Follow up album Song was criminally under promoted by the then-flailing Siren, with only one single - New Brighton - being released. Life's Hard And Then You Die, despite a hit single, only managed #62 in the UK album chart. Song didn't chart. There's a fascinating interview with John and Jarvis on Japanese TV in 1990, promoting the album. It casts light on the disappointment and disillusionment that followed the debut album and what was to come.

Nobody could have predicted the trials and tribulations that It's Immaterial would face with their planned third album, well documented in more recent interviews. Begun in 1992, it was 2020 before House For Sale eventually got a physical release. Several of the 'lost' versions emerged online in the last decade with some getting the video treatment, including Just North Of Here, which made it to the finished album, and New Moon, which didn't.

There's also a lovely remix by Heinrich Geißler of another 'lost' and unreleased song, Out Of The Blue. Not dissimilar to Todd Terry's remix of Missing by Everything But The Girl and (God help me, here he is again) On The Beach by Chris Rea. The shuffling, Balearic sound beautifully underpins Campbell's vocals. I'd love to hear the original version of this song. 

 

House For Sale is a great album that so easily could never have made it, and I'm so glad that it did. There remain a number of 'lost' songs, available online, that could pretty much make up a fourth album, but it was great to read that John and Jarvis have also begun this year to write and record songs for a planned follow up. If It's Immaterial had called it a day after Life's Hard And Then You Die, they still would have produced an absolutely immense and complex album of beauty. Personally, I'm glad that there was - and continues to be - more.

 

Huzza Huzza / A Gigantic Raft In The Philippines (Live @ Riverside, BBC TV, 07 March 1983)  

Festival Time (The Tube: Liverpool Video Version) (1986)

Driving Away From Home (Jim's Tune) (Video Version) (1986) 

Driving Away From Home (Jim's Tune) (Top Of The Pops Performance) (1986) 

Ed's Funky Diner (1986)

Space (1986)

New Brighton (1990)

Just North Of Here ('Lost' Version) (1992) 

New Moon ('Lost' Version) (1992)

Out Of The Blue (Heinrich Geißler Smooth Summer Edit) (2013)

 

John Campbell & Jarvis Whitehead Interview (Vivid, Japanese TV) (1990)

John Campbell Interviewed By Ian Skewis (2020)

You Never Really Saw...

I unearthed this CD-R, which I compiled and burned on 1st June 2005, featuring "alternative 1980s twelve inch mixes". 

This got me reminiscing about going to alternative clubs in Bristol, such as Badlands and The Whip. The latter I've discovered has had it's own Facebook page for years...I'm always late to the party! 

In all honesty, I think the majority of these songs would never had made it near the turntable of most of the clubs I went to at the time. Attempting to play The Icicle Works or U2 would likely have resulted in a Snakebite shower, but Is This The Life, How Soon Is Now?, Uncertain Smile and She Sells Sanctuary were regularly played, along with Fetish by Vicious Pink and Nag Nag Nag by Cabaret Voltaire. 

I'm not sure if it was always there, but I remember Badlands being in a small room above a huge club called Busbys (maybe Ritzys by that time), so there was always the fun of 'mingling' with the mainstream crowd on the way in and out. The Whip was even more fun in that respect as it was in The Studio, in a small room off the main club area, and you had to run the gauntlet of pissed up lager louts dancing to Stock, Aitken & Waterman to get to and from the bogs. 

A limbering up session at The Bunch Of Goths on Denmark Street usually got you ready for the long night (& morning) ahead, followed by an 'all back to mine' at someone's place in Stokes Croft or a 'keep going til the dawn' refresher at the wonderful Jamaican Good Food in St. Pauls. Great times.

1) The Love Parade (12" Version): The Undertones (1983)

2) Is This The Life (12" Version): Cardiacs (1988)

3) Summertime (Extended Version): Fun Boy Three (1982)

4) Hollow Horse (Long Version: The Icicle Works (1984)

5) She Sells Sanctuary (Long Version): The Cult (1985)

6) Finest Worksong (Lengthy Club Mix): R.E.M. (1987)

7) Two Tribes (Carnage): Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1984)

8) How Soon Is Now? (12" Version): The Smiths (1984)

9) Driving Away From Home (I Mean After All It's Only 'Dead Man's Curve'): It's Immaterial (1986)

10) Two Hearts Beat As One (Club Version): U2 (1983)

11) Skin Deep (Extended Version): The Stranglers (1984)

12) Uncertain Smile (Extended Version): The The (1982)

 

You Never Really Saw... (1:18:33) (KF) (Mega)