Dilate Your Mind

Not my favourite Duran Duran single by a long chalk, but I found myself thinking of Too Much Information yesterday. 

Written by the band, at that time a four-piece comprising Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Warren Cuccurullo, it was a modest hit in the UK (#35) and USA (#45), faring marginally better in Canada (#25).

I'd not seen the video before and whilst visually it's of moderate interest if overlong, structured around the 5 minute album version rather than the slightly more spritely 4 minute radio edit, it's the director credit that caught my attention.

Nick Egan is more familiar to me for his design work on album art. How's this for starters?

(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais & Tommy Gun (singles): The Clash (1978)

Searching For The Young Soul Rebels: Dexys Midnight Runners (1980)

See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang Yeah, City All Over! Go Ape Crazy!: Bow Wow Wow (1981)

Duck Rock: Malcolm McLaren (1983)

Empire Burlesque: Bob Dylan (1985)

Midnight To Midnight: The Psychedelic Furs (1986)

Kick: INXS (1987)

It's inevitable that Nick would move into video direction and although it's not particularly memorable compared to, say, Rio or The Wild Boys, it does a decent job of conveying the spirit of the song, with rapid edits, fast zooms, use of old news footage and a prop that references A Clockwork Orange.

Too Much Information had remixes to appeal on both sides of the Atlantic, America represented by John 'Jellybean' Benitez, the UK by Ben Chapman. The latter edges it for me.

 

Destroyed by MTV

I hate to bite the hand that feeds me

So much information

The pressure's on the screen

To sell you things that you don't need

It's too much information for me

Hey TV child

Look into my eyes

Here by intervention

I want your attention

Promotion boy

In a suit 'n' tie

He wants you to use it

You're too shot to lose it

It's pumpin' down the cable

Like never so before

A cola manufacturer

Is sponsoring the war

Here comes the news

With love from me to you

Destroyed by ABC

I hate to bite the hand that feeds me

So much information

The pressure's on the screen

To sell you things that you don't need

It's too much information for me

Turn on the tube

Hits you with groove

Advertisin' music

We want you to choose it

These teeth are white

Trainers ultra bright

This band is perfect

Just don't scratch the surface

We covered all the angles

The survey people said

Just put us on the cover

We'd be smilin' anyway

This video was made

With love for you

Destroyed by BBC

I hate to bite the hand that feeds me

So much information

The pressure's on the screen

To sell you things that you don't need

It's too much information for me

Dilate your mind, dilate your mind

Dilate your mind, dilate your mind

Got to give it to me

Got to listen to me

Got to give in to me

Now I'm on the line

Got to give it to me

Got to listen to me

Got to give in to me

Now I'm on the line

I try

Yes, I try

Oh, I try

Here It Comes Again

"it" being "Friday", "the start of the weekend" or "another bloody 12"/80s Dubhed selection".

If the latter doesn't get your hackles rising then you're in for a treat with some poptacular extended mixes featuring Altered Images, B.E.F., Billy MacKenzie, Erasure, Eurythmics, New Order, Pet Shop Boys and Stephen Duffy.

Fair warning that the BPMs will remain "up" for the next 72 hours....

1) See Those Eyes (Long Version) (Remix By Martin Rushent): Altered Images (1982)

2) It Doesn't Have To Be (Boop Oopa Doo Mix By Mixmaster Phil Harding): Erasure (1987)

3) In The Night (Remix By Arthur Baker): Pet Shop Boys (1986)

4) Round & Round (Club Mix By Ben Grosse & Kevin Saunderson): New Order (1989)

5) Cool Blue (Vocal Mix By John 'Jellybean' Benitez): Eurythmics (1984)

6) The Secret Life Of Arabia (Dub Mix By Martyn Ware & Ian Craig Marsh) (Cover of David Bowie): B.E.F. ft. Billy Mackenzie (1982)

7) I Love You (Diversion) (12" Version By David Leonard): Stephen Duffy (1986)

1982: Methods Of Dance Volume 2: 6

1982: See Those Eyes EP: 1

1984: Touch Dance: 5

1986: Disco: 3

1986: Extended Play EP: 7

1987: It Doesn't Have To Be EP: 2

1989: Round & Round EP: 4

Here It Comes Again (46:06) (KF) (Mega)

How Can It Be Remixed?

45 minutes of glacial Norwegian pop, courtesy of a-ha.

Most of these are 12" extended versions from the 1980s, including a couple that remained unreleased until 2016. I've also opted for one contemporary 21st century remix, plus revamps of their two biggest songs from the same decade.

Mark Vidler aka Go Home Productions is perhaps best known as a master of the mash-up, but also turned his hand to some (unofficial) remixes. The Sun Always Shines On T.V. appeared on a GHP compilation in 2007 but dates from 2-3 years previously.

The Twelves are a pair of Brazilian boys, clearly inspired by the likes of Daft Punk and Justice, who released music on the trendy Kitsune label and did tons of remixes for the hip and beautiful likes of New Young Pony Club, Black Kids, La Roux, Groove Armada and Fever Ray. Their remix of Take On Me appeared on a Chevrolet (Brazil)-commissioned promo for the Vectra GT sports car. 

Of the rest, you get Morten Harket's vocals on full display, be it for ballads, club tracks or rockier numbers (or at least, Norway's singular take on the genre). I wouldn't call myself a huge fan of a-ha, then or now, but they knew how to write and play songs laden with hooks, for sure.

Happy Friday, everyone!

1) The Sun Always Shines On T.V. (Go Home Productions Remix By Mark Vidler) (2007)

2) You Are The One (Dub Mix Edit By Justin Strauss & Daniel Abraham) (1988)

3) Cry Wolf (Extended Version By Magne Furuholmen, Paul Waaktaar & Gerry Kitchingham) (1986)

4) Stay On These Roads (Extended Remix By Alan Tarney & John Hudson) (1988)

5) I've Been Losing You (Extended Mix By John 'Jellybean' Benitez) (1986)

6) Summer Moved On (Remix By C.L.A.S.S. Production aka Andreas Herbig) (2000)

7) Touchy! (House Mix By Paul Simpson) (1988)

8) Take On Me (The Twelves Remix By João Amaral & Luciano Oliveira) (2009)

1986: Cry Wolf EP: 3

1986: I've Been Losing You EP: 5

1988: Stay On These Roads EP: 4

2000: Summer Moved On EP: 6

2007: GHP Unofficial Remixes 2: 1

2009: Vectra GT Remix EP (promo CD single): 8

2016: Time And Again: The Ultimate a-ha (2x CD): 2, 7

How Can It Be Remixed? (45:39) (KF) (Mega)

Blue, Gene

Remembering Gene Hackman, 30th January 1930 to 26th February 2025.

Ernie Goggins at 27 Leggies posted Too Many RIPs on Thursday, noting the recent losses of Jerry Butler, Gwen McCrae, Ken Parker, Bill Fay and Roberta Flack (with Rick Buckler from The Jam also noted). "This has got to stop", pleaded Ernie.

Sadly, later the same day, news emerged that Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and one of the family dogs had all been discovered dead at the home on the Old Sunset Trail in Santa Fe County, New Mexico. 

I will add some words to this post at a later date, as there is a greater understanding of the tragic circumstances that led to this discovery, and to reflect on the impact of Gene's immense and varied acting career.

In the meantime, in time-honoured knee jerk tradition, I've responded by collating an hour-long Dubhed selection, all song titles drawn from Gene's film and TV career. With over 100 credits, there were no shortage of quality contenders, but I think the final 14 hit the spot.

No apologies for tracks 11 and 14, which shoehorn in the film via the subtitle, they were too good to ignore. Likewise, who will argue that the opening song drops the definite article when it's Joni Mitchell?

Farewell, Gene and Betsy.

1) Conversation: Joni Mitchell (1970)

2) Route 66 (Single Version) (Cover of Nat King Cole & The King Cole Trio): Depeche Mode (1987)

3) Bonnie And Clyde (Cover of Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot): Mick Harvey ft. Anita Lane (1995)

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

5) Two Of A Kind: Superstar (1998)

6) The Mexican (Short Version): Jellybean ft. Jenny Haan (1987)

7) Downhill Racer (Kenny Dope Remix): Everything But The Girl (2004)

8) The Quick & The Dead: Ladyhawke (2012)

9) Twilight (Album Version): Hifi Sean & David McAlmont (2025)

10) Superman (Album Version) (Cover of The Clique): R.E.M. (1986)

11) Wish You Were Here... (Postcards From The Edge) (Remix By Ashley Beedle): The Aloof (1996)

12) Another Woman (Album Version): Moby ft. Barbara Lynn (2000)

13) Crimson Tide: Destroyer (2020)

14) Plug Me In (The French Connection) (Remix By Rick Phylip-Jones): Scarlet Fantastic (1987)

Blue, Gene (1:01:08) (KF) (Mega)

'87 Heaven

A return trip to the 1980s, specifically singles troubling the UK Top 50 on 28th October 1987.

I was 16 and had just started sixth form college...for the first time, anyway, this one didn't last. I was sadly single, at the same college as my ex and was very attracted to a girl called Maria who shared a couple of classes with me. Of course, I was far too shy to ask her out for a date and besides, she'd expressed a preference for tall, muscular Italian men. I was a skinny weirdo from Bristol who had been to a gym and decided it wasn't for me.

Music never let me down, though. There was always something there for whatever mood or situation I found myself in. In October 1987, I was still pretty rooted in guitar music, leaning towards indie/goth, my mate Paul was introducing me to hip hop and rap and, much as I may outwardly protest to the contrary, I still loved cheesy pop, though Stock, Aitken & Waterman were a step too far most of the time.

The UK singles chart was a bit of a mixed bag in the week of 25th-31st October 1987. Bee Gees were at #1 with You Win Again, for the third of what would be a four-week run at the top. Amazingly, the song kept Faith by George Michael at #2 for this and the following week; I would have sworn the latter was also a #1.

This selection cherry picks seven songs that were heading up, down or just staying put in the Top 50, presented here in various 12" versions, my format of choice at the time. Spookily, pretty much all of the songs featured here had achieved their highest chart position in this week (excluding previous or subsequent (re)releases). I've put chart positions in brackets after each song.

 

For the price of admission, you will be entertained by Scarlet Fantastic and Fleetwood Mac respectively remixed by PWL stalwarts Pete Hammond and Pete Waterman, and John 'Jellybean' Benitez.

 

Bryan Ferry ropes in Johnny Marr on what is essentially a cover of Money Changes Everything by The Smiths, Ferry adding his own lyrics to Marr's original composition.  

 

Walk The Dinosaur by Was (Not Was) is a party song and 80s compilation staple. This is a much different, sample-heavy take on the song, which occasionally nods to the original.

Billy Idol originally released a cover of Mony Mony on his debut solo EP, Don't Stop, in 1981. Six years later, a live version was released as a single and cracked the UK Top 10. Tom Lord-Alge provided a couple of new remixes for the 12" single.

Blue Mercedes were a dance pop duo from the PWL stable, remixed here by Phil Harding & Ian Curnow. Whilst they didn't match the success of many of their label mates, debut single I Want To Be Your Property did manage the admirable feat of dropping for a couple of weeks after this week's peak of #47 then staging a recovery at getting to #23 the following month. Rumours that PWL A&R was giving children wads of cash to purchase multiple copies of the single from HMV and Our Price are unfounded.

Ending as it only can with the Queen of Pop, with a nearly 10-minute remix of Causing A Commotion by Madonna. The song was taken from the film, Who's That Girl, effectively a showcase for Madge's sidestep into acting. I'm sure I've seen it at least once but I frankly can't remember a thing about it. I love the song though I was surprised to find that the single peaked at #4 on 26th September and was on a slow and steady exit from the Top 40 by 28th October. Such was Madonna's impact at the time that I would have assumed that every single was a #1.

 

Today's image is from Doctor Who, specifically the story Paradise Towers, the 4th and final episode of which aired on 26th October 1987. It was Sylvester McCoy's eighth on-screen appearance in the titular role, an appointment arguably only slightly less controversial than the casting the previous year of Bonnie Langford as companion Mel. 

 

Although the show was 'rested' a couple of years later for nearly two decades, McCoy was able to establish himself as a great Doctor during his tenure. Bonnie's character rehabilitation took a while longer and via the medium of Doctor Who audio productions. The announcement in June this year that Mel will be returning to the TV show after nearly four decades was greeted with more joy than Bonnie could possibly have imagined in 1987.

 

1) No Memory (Extra Sensory Mix By Pete Hammond & Pete Waterman) (Edit): Scarlet Fantastic (#30)

2) Little Lies (Extended Version By John 'Jellybean' Benitez): Fleetwood Mac (#5)

3) The Right Stuff (Dance Mix By Alan Meyerson / Edited By The Latin Rascals): Bryan Ferry ft. Johnny Marr (#37)

4) Walk The Dinosaur (The Debunking Of Uri Geller Mix By Don Was & Jamie Muhoberac): Was (Not Was) (#10)

5) Mony Mony (Hung Like A Pony Remix By Tom Lord-Alge) (Cover of Tommy James & The Shondells): Billy Idol (#7)

6) I Want To Be Your Property (Daktari Mix By Phil Harding & Ian Curnow): Blue Mercedes (#47)

7) Causing A Commotion (Movie House Mix By Shep Pettibone & Junior Vasquez): Madonna (#35)

 

'87 Heaven (46:04) (KF) (Mega)

For your further entertainment, here are the official videos for each of the seven songs. They don't make 'em like this anymore.