Dub '85

In a very belated follow up to Dub '83, which I posted in September 2023, today's selection is a dozen songs from - you guessed it, 1985 - given a dub overhaul. 

 

John Robie is the only producer from the previous selection appearing here, but he's joined by more heavyweights of 80s remix culture, including Shep Pettibone, Ivan Ivan aka Ivan Baker, Joseph Watt, Rusty Egan, Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero, Mark Berry and The Latin Rascals aka Albert Cabrera and Tony Moran.

 

It's all about the beats and the edits, with varying degrees of vocals. Not for everyone, but I loved them. It wasn't unusual for me to opt for the 12" B-side over the main mix when compiling mixtapes in the 1980s and 1990s.

 

I think I may have set a precedent with the previous post, of homaging / ripping off (delete as applicable) another, far superior Saturday morning quiz. In for a penny, in for a pound I say, so I've invented five more brain teasers. An hors d'oeuvre, if you will, before the more satisfying meal over at Rol's place.

1) The Vinyl Villain blog covered the Pet Shop Boys singles in 36 parts from January to October 2023. In which part did today's featured dub first appear?

2) Which band features the offspring of legendary TV presenter Bob Holness?

3) What is Bad Manners' front person Buster Bloodvessel's birth name?

4) Which of these songs is a cover version of a flop single from 1983?

5) What do red hat obsessives Devo, singer songwriter Hugh Cornwell, avant garde drummer Robert Williams and 1990s animated TV show Rugrats have in common?

Answers will be posted in the comments later today.

1) I Like You (Dub) (Remix By Shep Pettibone): Phyllis Nelson

2) Here To Go (Here To Dub Version By Ivan Ivan): Devo

3) Sweet Murder (The Smile On Her Face) (Murderess Dub Version By Michael Baker & Axel Kröll / Edited By The Latin Rascals): The Blow Monkeys

4) Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots Of Money) (Dub For Money) (Remix By The Latin Rascals): Pet Shop Boys

5) It's Called A Heart (Emotion Dub) (Remix By Joseph Watt): Depeche Mode

6) Girls Night Out (Dub) (Remix By Nigel Wright & Robin Sellars): Toto Coelo

7) Living On Video (Dub Mix By Claude Allard & Pascal Languirand): Trans-X

8) Dub-Vulture (Remixed By John Robie) (12"): New Order

9) Blue Summer (Dub) (Remix By Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero): Bad Manners

10) Kings And Queens (Geordie's Dub Mix By Geordie Walker): Killing Joke

11) Come Back (Dub) (Remix By Rusty Egan): Spear Of Destiny

12) Obsession (Dub) (Remix By Mark Berry): Animotion

Dub '85 (1:11:20) (KF) (Mega)

You can find Dub '83 here.

I will get around to Dub '84 at some point, I'm sure.

The Night After Last Night From Last Night From Glasgow

More from Last Night From Glasgow with another selection of new and old classics. Even with two volumes and twenty songs in total, there's tons of good music that I've had to skip over.

As well as the lovingly crafted sleeves, the majority of LNFG albums also come in a delightful array of coloured vinyl. Part of the joy of opening up the latest package is the reveal of what's inside: pink, blue, green, yellow, white, mottled, speckled, clear, classic black; placing the needle to hear the first seconds of the opening song is another tangible pleasure.

As a paid up member, you are also granted access to the LNFG Digital Vault, which goes back to 2016 and includes a mind-boggling amount of artists, albums, singles and one-offs. Two years in and I'm still working my way through the treasures. 

 

Some of the choices on these two volumes weren't included in my vinyl membership so to say that you get value for money is an understatement. And that's before you take into account membership discounts on other purchases and, if you can get there, access to LNFG artist gigs in Glasgow.

A final thank you to JC at The Vinyl Villain, whose frequent posts about LNFG artists caught my attention and convinced me to give it a try in the first place. No regrets!

 

1) Said Too Much (New Version): The Blow Monkeys (2023)

2) Give It Time (John Peel Session): Autumn 1904 (1984)

3) Nothing Left But This: Starless ft. Marie Claire Lee (2024)

4) Jack Data Dracula: Gareth Sager (2023)

5) Miniature Oceans: Xan Tyler (2023)

6) Grey Will Fade: Charlotte Hatherley (2004)

7) Long Time Coming: Air In The Lungs (2023)

8) Snow: Popup (2022)

9) The Barbery Bop: The Kingfishers (2023)

10) Apostle Spoons: The Blue Aeroplanes (2023)

2004: Grey Will Fade: 6

2022: Promise: 8

2023: Air In The Lungs: 7

2023: Culture Gun: 10

2023: Maelstrom In The Bare Garden: 4

2023: Reflections In A Silver Sound: 9

2023: Time Storm: Greatest Hits Vol. 2: 1

2024: Holding Up Half The Sky: 5

2024: Returning Home: 3

2024: Tales Of Innocence: 2

Volume Two (40:23) (KF) (Mega)

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)