#StandaloneSingles

The end of another month and the end of another music challenge on BlueSky, hosted by @tansleyjames.bsky.social.

The challenge? "Throughout February choose 28 of your favourite standalone singles. Post one per day, ranked or unranked. Lead tracks on EPs and singles tagged on to Best Of compilations can be selected, the main criteria is that they aren’t on an artist’s studio album."

I jumped in with an 'unranked and random' selection, initially making it up as a I went along, eventually stockpiling songs that I wanted to use, but using the 'shuffle' function to maintain the random nature of my daily picks. Just two exceptions: my pick for Valentine's Day had to be a song with 'love' in the title, and my penultimate pick, inspired by Swiss Adam, also timed to coincide with the release date of a timely cover version.

I've created two Dubhed selections for your listening pleasure today, a first stand and a last stand, covering picks 1-14 and 15-28 respectively. Amazingly, despite the lack of planning and sequencing, both come in at a smidge over 60 minutes and actually don't jar as much as I might have expected.

The only place today that you're likely to hear Bee Gees followed by Orbital, The Shirelles paired with David Holmes, Stevie Wonder rubbing shoulders with A Certain Ratio and Ellen Beth Abdi, and samples of ABC, Bad Manners and Mazzy Star liberally sprinkled throughout.

I've tweaked and adapted the original BlueSky posts to provide a track-by-track 'sleeve note' for your added entertainment.

I've Gotta Get A Message To You by Bee Gees was The Brothers Gibb's 2nd #1 in the UK and a standalone single, although it was added to the US edition of 3rd album Idea when the song cracked the Top 10 there.

From the Brothers Gibb to the Brothers Hartnoll, it's a testament to how many good tunes Orbital had that Omen didn't make their debut album. And if you can remember this rave, you weren't there...

Young Parisians, the debut single by Adam & The Ants, flopped when released in October 1978. By 3rd February 1981, it was enjoying a 2nd week at #9 in the UK, during the height of Antmania. La deuxième fois sera la bonne!

Again, I Wait For The World was recorded for Blancmange's greatest hits compilation in 2024, the song is every bit as good as their peak period pieces.

As a lifelong DMs wearer, My Docs by Kiss AMC was an easy pick for me. Top production from Greg Wilson and getting guest spots from Noddy Holder and Frank Sidebottom in the video was a genius move.

New year, new HANN. Titchiest Kitchen In Britain is the latest in a line of fab standalone singles, with a cheeky DIY video to boot. "Not enough room to tickle a kitten" indeed!

From '26 to '62, with It's Love That Really Counts (In The Long Run) by The Shirelles, a shivering classic written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

Johnny Favourite by David Holmes would also be a dead cert for a debut singles challenge. Strap in, I've included the 15+ min Exploding Plastic Inevitable Mix by David, Jagz Kooner & Gary Burns in today's selection. Stunning.

Fast forward three decades from 1994 to 2024 and Real Magnificent by Fluke featuring Leah Cleaver. Comeback of the decade and rarely a more apt title for a song. 

I have loved Seconds Too Late by Cabaret Voltaire since my brother bought The Golden Moments Of Cabaret Voltaire CD in the late 80s then included the track on a mixtape for me.

A more recent love is Nzaumi by Ndalani 77 Brothers. Eternal thanks to Ernie Goggins creator and curator of the superb 27 Leggies blog for introducing me to this late 70s Kenyan classic a couple of years ago, during his African Odyssey. Funky as hell!

The original of That's What Friends Are For by Deniece Williams was a UK #8 in 1977, but Janet Kay's cover the same year is the definitive version for me. 

Always ahead of the game, I suspect that Sparks released the Madder! EP in 2025 just so they could appear in the #StandaloneSingles series :-)  I've chosen opening song Porcupine, which comes with a typically fab video, starring the equally fab Self Esteem.

For Valentine's Day, I picked a song for all the lovers out there.  What else, but Laser Love by T. Rex? How on earth did this single stall outside the UK Top 40 in 1976?!

(deep breath, then on with the second half...)

I think Never Change by MC Buzz B got withdrawn from release in 1991 as Bruce Hornsby wasn't happy with the sample of The Way It Is, inspired though it was. 

I was cheating a bit with this pick as Never Change appeared on MC Buzz B's album Words Escape Me! However, the song was stripped of the offending Hornsby sample, which changed the song completely (and to it's detriment) in my book!

MC Buzz B later fronted a clutch of classics by Lionrock aka Justin Robertson. 

Iron Lion Zion was an unreleased Bob Marley song, recorded circa 1973, discovered in the vaults nearly two decades later, then remixed, released and a UK #5 hit in 1992.

When my friend John wanted to educate me in the brilliance of Belle & Sebastian, Dog On Wheels was one of the songs that he chose. It worked.

Face To Face by Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie is a harrowing account of rape and it's aftermath, including the failure of the legal system. Three decades on, rape, sexual assault and domestic abuse remain hugely under reported crimes with shamefully low conviction rates for those that make it to court.

Weakness is track 2 of the Island Head E.P. by Inspiral Carpets and one of their finest songs, full stop.

The Cure's 1980s singles pop up frequently in others' #StandaloneSingles picks (and rightly so). Wrong Number is an underrated gem, released to promote the Galore singles compilation in 1997. As always, The Cure also deliver a rather wonderful video.

My next choice is Can't Stop Jumping by Bim Sherman and Dub Syndicate from 1983, specifically the 10" version produced by Adrian Sherwood and featuring Dr. Pablo. The single was a double A-side with Keep You Dancing, equally wonderful.

My Sahel was an all-star, one-off single to promote the My Sahel initiative mysahel.org in 2023.  Credited to Vieux Farka Touré, Amadou & Mariam and OMG Oumy Gueye, featuring Bassekou Kouyaté, Songhoy Blues and Tal National.

Originally a one-off digital single by The The in 2007, Mrs Mac reached a new audience in 2023 as the 7" B-side of $1 One Vote! One of Matt Johnson's deepest, darkest songs.

Stevie Wonder was 17 years old when he co-wrote and recorded I'm Wondering in 1967. I'll just leave that fact there.

When A Certain Ratio and Ellen Beth Abdi get together, magic is guaranteed. Day By Day is the opening track of the superb 4-track 2023 EP.

I was a fan of The Dream Academy but not so much their 1985 standalone single, a cover of The Smiths' Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want. Thanks to John Hughes' used of the song in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, it grew on me!

The 12" of Tarantula was the first Colourbox single I bought and it remains my favourite song of theirs, but the cover by This Mortal Coil was the first version that I heard, in 1986. 

There are several other varied and fine covers out there including Beck (2019), Diane Birch & The Phenomenal Handclap Band (2010), Maria Usbeck (2016) and, released just yesterday, Darkinari & Pandit Pam Pam (with thanks to Swiss Adam at Bagging Area for the heads up on the latter).

And, to close...

Four Tet released Into Dust (Still Falling) last June. It's Kieran Hebden at his best, with an aching hint of Hope Sandoval/Mazzy Star to melt your heart.

First Stand

1) I've Gotta Get A Message To You: Bee Gees (1968)

2) Omen (12"): Orbital (1990)

3) Young Parisians (Single Version): Adam & The Ants (1978)

4) Again, I Wait For The World: Blancmange (2024)

5) My Docs (7" Mix): Kiss AMC (1990)

6) Titchiest Kitchen in Britain: HANN (2026)

7) It's Love That Really Counts (In The Long Run): The Shirelles (1962)

8) Johnny Favourite (Exploding Plastic Inevitable Mix): David Holmes (1994)

9) Real Magnificent (Single Version): Fluke ft. Leah Cleaver (2024)

10) Seconds Too Late: Cabaret Voltaire (1980)

11) Nzaumi: Ndalani 77 Brothers (1977)

12) That's What Friends Are For (Single Version) (Cover of Deniece Williams): Janet Kay (1977)

13) Porcupine: Sparks (2025)

14) Laser Love: T. Rex (1976)

Last Stand

1) Never Change (7" Mix): MC Buzz B (1991)

2) Iron Lion Zion (7" Mix): Bob Marley (1992)

3) Dog On Wheels: Belle & Sebastian (1997)

4) Face To Face (Single Version): Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie (1987)

5) Weakness (Single Version): Inspiral Carpets (1990)

6) Wrong Number (P2P Mix): The Cure (1997)

7) Can't Stop Jumping (10" Version): Bim Sherman / Dub Syndicate (1983)

8) My Sahel: Vieux Farka Touré, Amadou & Mariam, OMG Oumy Gueye ft. Bassekou Kouyaté, Songhoy Blues & Tal National (2023)

9) Mrs Mac: The The (2007)

10) I'm Wondering: Stevie Wonder (1967)

11) Day By Day: A Certain Ratio ft. Ellen Beth Abdi (2023)

12) Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want (Single Version) (Cover of The Smiths): The Dream Academy (1985)

13) Tarantula (Second Version) (12"): Colourbox (1983)

14) Into Dust (Still Falling): Four Tet (2025)

First Stand (1:05:02) (GD) (M)

Last Stand (1:02:13) (GD) (M)

Upon A Mouse #5: Roxy And Romy

Yesterday's post featured a pair of American bands; today, it's back to England for Roxy Music and The xx (or, if you prefer, The XX).

Before I get into the detail, just in case this is your first visit to the blog this week/in a while/ever, I am honour bound to point out that the inspiration for this series is another series on another blog. 

That series is The 20 Greatest Eponymous Albums Of All Time series (recently concluded) and that blog is No Badger Required (continuing to delight on a daily basis).

I was invited to join the NBR Musical Jury to cast my vote for my Top 20 from a longlist. Some of my suggestions made it to the final countdown, some didn't, and extracts from many of my comments were included in the published posts.

This series is running through my picks, expanding on and reframing those original submissions. And if it's further encouragement to have another listen to those albums, even go out and buy a copy if you don't already have it, then all the better.

In my Top 20, Roxy Music's debut came in at #16, whilst The xx were several places higher at #11. In No Badger Required's definitive list, both fared less well. The xx were placed at #17, and Roxy Music failed to make the Top 20 altogether.

From my experience, I knew a bit about Roxy Music growing up, but as my teens - and record buying - kicked off in the mid-1980s, I was more familiar with Bryan Ferry’s slick solo career. My first purchase therefore wasn't any of Roxy Music's run of classic albums, but the 12" single of Windswept. And, if I'm honest, I was almost certainly drawn as much to it being a value-for-money 4-song EP as I was to the quality of the lead single.

As for Bryan Ferry himself, I liked his voice and his super smooth appearance, though more in the manner of a cool uncle than someone to aspire to. From watching Bryan's facial expressions during his regular appearances on TV chat shows and Top Of The Pops, it also seemed to me that performing was a painful experience. Not so much the act of singing itself, but more that his grimaces suggested trapped wind or acid reflux. 

The excellent Street Life compilation came out in 1986, gathering twenty of Bryan's finest songs with Roxy Music and as a solo artist, bought on cassette (probably by my brother) and a staple of our parents' car stereo and in-house hifi as it was one of the few records that either of us owned that our mum and dad could also tolerate.

None of the "20 Great Hits" featured on Street Life were lifted from Roxy Music's self-titled debut and I never took a deeper dive into the Roxy Music catalogue for the remainder of the 20th century. 

My first impression of Roxy Music (the album) was that the cover was garish and dated (I still do) but when I eventually took the plunge and actually listened to the album, I wondered why I had held off for so long. Not just down to the songs that I was familiar with (Remake/Re-Model and Ladytron), not even the fact that there were no singles (hence the absence from Street Life), but that the album is a crazy, eclectic, delightful mix of ideas and music. 

If anything, Side Two is even more bonkers than Side One, with The Bob (Medley) and Chance Meeting, before Would You Believe? leaps back into a Sixties pop bop jamboree, as does closing song Bitters End, sandwiching the sublime Sea Breezes.

All in all, Roxy Music is an abject lesson in never judging an album by its cover. What lies in the grooves is astonishing.

I wasn’t expecting a Goth revival in the late 2000s. I didn’t know I needed a Goth revival in the late 2000s. Yet, musically speaking, The xx was everything that I needed right then, right there. 

My friend John punted The xx's eponymous first to me as part of a bundle of new and old albums that he thought I would like. The timing also coincided with my growing appetite for searching and downloading freebies from the internet - there were so many legitimate freebies back then - which bolstered my collection of The xx with multiple remixes of album tracks and singles.

Whilst none of the latter surpassed the original versions, nearly all of the artists drawn to remixing The xx understood what made them magical, and such a compelling band and in the majority of cases, managed not to lose that magic in translation.

The album itself is wonderful: Romy and Oliver’s vocals; that on-point bass; Jamie’s 21st century synth nous. All coalesced into a murky, gloomy whole that somehow managed to be both an enervating and energising experience. 

Not a tune out of place or a note wasted. 

Today's cover photo, snapped off the telly at 23:59 on Sunday 28th April 2024 apparently, is a first for this series in that it does actually have some relevance!

The man with the perplexed expression is Nick Laird-Clowes, performing Life In A Northern Town, the big hit for his band The Dream Academy, on Top Of The Pops in April 1985. 

Much as I like The Dream Academy's eponymous debut, it wasn't a contender for the No Badger Required challenge. By way of consolation, I've added one of their videos to today's selection. Please forgive me, Nick!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everybody's Got To Learn Nine Times

Mute has released the third song from Mark Stewart's posthumous album, The Fateful Symmetry, out on 11th July. 

Not only is it a singular cover of The Korgis' signature song, Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime, but in the hands of Elijah Minnelli and Adrian Sherwood, it's been transformed into "a masterstroke of soundsystem militancy". 

And rest assured, despite the Bébe Durmiendo Cumbia Bootleg label, this is the version that you'll find on the album.

If you haven't already pre-ordered The Fateful Symmetry, you can do it now.

I have quite a few cover versions of the song already, including Beck (from 2004's Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind OST), Glasvegas (the B-side of 2007 single Geraldine) and The Dream Academy (the penultimate song of 1987's 2nd album Remembrance Days). 

However, I didn't realise quite how many more versions there are out there, so here's the three above, plus another four from Yazz, Army Of Lovers, Erasure and, sticking two fingers to her siblings*, Sharon Corr.

And, to end, it has to be the version that started it all in 1980, The Korgis and a video that looks like a complete health and safety nightmare.

All beautiful, in their own way.

1) Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime (Bébe Durmiendo Cumbia Bootleg): Mark Stewart (2025)

2) Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime: Army Of Lovers (2001)

3) Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime (Live @ Primavera Sound, São Paulo, Brazil): Beck (2023)

4) Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime: The Dream Academy (1987)

5) Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime (Live @ The EIS Christmas Concert, Birmingham): Erasure (2002)

6) Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime: Glasvegas (2008)

7) Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime: Sharon Corr (2010)

8) Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime: Yazz (1994)

9) Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime: The Korgis (1980)

* absolutely not true.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decade III: 1985

Side 2 of a misplaced mixtape, compiled circa March 1990, wrecked or abandoned some years later, resurrected and repurposed 18th August 2024.

 

In stark contrast, the hits don't keep coming in this selection, the number of singles that failed to chart in the UK (4) outnumbering those reaching the Top 20 (2). 

 

I could have easily filled the 45 minutes with bonafide hits from a-ha, China Crisis, Fine Young Cannibals, Kate Bush, Level 42, Pet Shop Boys, Simple Minds, Thompson Twins and The Waterboys without finding myself in the dire straits of having to include, er, Dire Straits. However, I think this recreation is a pretty fair representation of where this nascent goth was in 1985.

To acknowledge the elephant in the room, I've fallen foul of the record label info again and included Godstar, Psychic TV's tribute to Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones, as a release in 1985. The Official Chart Company insists that the single didn't begin to trouble the charts until the end of March 1986, peaking at a dizzying #67 in its fifth week. 

 

In my defence, I can't confirm the single's official release date but promos were circulating in late 1985 and the record sleeve states that Godstar "is the theme song from the forthcoming feature film of the same name about the Life and Times of Brian Jones which begins shooting on February 28th 1986". So, it's staying put in 1985 as far as I'm concerned!

Continuing the ropey Six Degrees Of Separation theme that I failed to extend beyond three songs yesterday, there is a further connection between sides 1 and 2 of this cassette. Godstar is co-credited to The Angels Of Light, including Rose McDowall, who featured yesterday with Strawberry Switchblade. 

There's a further connection between Since Yesterday by Strawberry Switchblade and track 2, You've Got The Power by Win, in that both were David Motion. You can't make this stuff up, you know.

Fire In The Twilight by Wang Chung didn't trouble the Top 100 here, but is forever etched in my mind for its inclusion in John Hughes' film The Breakfast Club, sound tracking the scene where the tearaway teens are racing to get back to their desks ahead of scumbag teacher Vernon. It's an unfeasibly enormous school, based on this scene.

Bring On The Dancing Horses was the first 12" single that I bought by Echo & The Bunnymen, along with their Songs To Learn & Sing greatest hits compilation. Late to the party I may have been, but both have been enduring favourites. 

How Soon Is Now? was the first 12" single I owned by The Smiths, but I've gone for my second purchase, The Boy With The Thorn In His Side, rescued from the ex-chart bargain bin at my local WH Smiths (in the days when there were enough WH Smiths to have a local one). 

The Dream Academy couldn't even quite match Psychic TV's peak, The Love Parade entering the charts at #96 on this day in 1985 and reaching a disappointing #68 a couple of weeks later. A far cry from their previous high of #15 with Life in A Northern Town. They tried again later in the year with a cover of The Smiths' Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want. The record buying public clearly misinterpreted this request as "another flop single", as it limped to #83. Still, at least the inclusion of the instrumental version in another John Hughes movie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, guaranteed immortality.

By 1985, Frank Tovey had shed his Fad Gadget persona and was arguably aiming for a slightly more commercial sound, ably demonstrated by the single Luxury. Personally, I liked the new direction. It wasn't a hit, of course, and Tovey ploughed a different, darker, folkier furrow with subsequent albums.

No G.D.M. (Dedicated To Quentin Crisp) by Gina X was first released in 1979, again in 1982 and then re-mixed and re-released by original producer and collaborator Zeus B. Held in 1985. It didn't trouble the UK charts on any of these occasions, which understates its impact and brilliance. I guess Radio 1 playlists - and our sensitive ears - remained unprepared for a song about lesbians, transvestites and "red haired queers". Philistines!

What I Wouldn't Give by Pink Industry is one of the greatest singles of the 1980s. Seriously. I read a review of it in Smash Hits, of all places, where Chris Heath described it as "A very strange record, but a good one" which says it all really, though he had a word count to deliver so does go on a bit more. What I Wouldn't Give contains the brilliant verse,

 

There's my Smiths tapes you never wanted to hear

Throw them away, Morrissey in the bin

If that would bring you back again

A similar fate befell Mozzer's collection in households across the UK years later, when he devolved into a complete prick.

Some loud guitars from either end of the spectrum, first off with The Jesus & Mary Chain, followed by The Cult. I bought the latter, along with The Smiths, O.M.D. and, er, Animal Nightlife with a bunch of other 12" singles whilst holidaying with the family in a caravan in (I think) Bournemouth in the summer of 1985. 

It was a while longer before I owned a record by The Jesus & Mary Chain (not counting their appearance on The Hit Red Hot EP), though my love for their continuing recordings has outlasted that of The Cult by some distance. 

ZTT scored a coup by signing Grace Jones. Slave To The Rhythm was originally written and intended as a follow up to Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Relax and their demo finally saw the light of day a few years ago. It's good though I don't think anyone will argue that gifting it to Grace was the right move. For this selection, I've re-edited sections from the 7" and 12" 'Blooded' remix, including Ian McShane's introduction, to create a - for me, at least - more satisfying composite version. Heeeeere's Grace!

Normal service resumes next weekend, as I revisit the Decade cassette that I recorded in 1990, covering 1986 and 1987. Expect the unexpected. Well, a little.

 

1) Godstar (7" Version): Psychic TV ft. The Angels Of Light

2) You've Got The Power (7" Version): Win

3) Fire In The Twilight (Specially Remixed Version): Wang Chung

4) Bring On The Dancing Horses (Single Version): Echo & The Bunnymen

5) The Boy With The Thorn In His Side (Album Version): The Smiths

6) The Love Parade (7"): The Dream Academy

7) Luxury (Album Version): Frank Tovey

8) No G.D.M. (7 Inch): Gina X

9) What I Wouldn't Give (Album Version): Pink Industry

10) Never Understand (Album Version): The Jesus & Mary Chain

11) She Sells Sanctuary (Album Version): The Cult

12) Slave To The Rhythm (Cold Blooded Edit By Khayem): Grace Jones

3rd March 1985: Psychocandy (#47): 10

20th April 1985: Fire In The Twilight EP (# n/a): 3

?? May 1985: No G.D.M. EP (# n/a): 8

?? June 1985: You've Got The Power EP (#95): 2 *

?? July 1985: New Beginnings (# n/a): 9

28th July 1985: Love (#15): 11

?? August 1985: Snakes & Ladders (# n/a): 7

8th September 1985: The Love Parade EP (#68): 6

6th October 1985: The Queen Is Dead (#23): 5

20th October 1985: Slave To The Rhythm EP (#20): 12

27th October 1985: Bring On The Dancing Horses EP (#21): 4

20th April 1986: Godstar EP (#67): 1 **

 

Side Two (45:35) (GD) (M)

* You've Got The Power was originally released in June 1985 then twice more, the third time proving lucky - kind of - when it got to #95 the week of 16th March 1986.

** According to Discogs, and my personal copy of the 12" single, Godstar was released in 1985. The sleeve info also notes that Godstar is the theme to a Brian Jones biopic "which begins shooting on February 28th 1986". I've no recollection why the single didn't enter the charts until late March 1986 and the film never saw the light of day, if indeed filming ever began...

A Million Hearts Beating In My Room

Back in 1985, I really loved The Dream Academy. That said, I liked but wasn't all that bothered by their debut single Life In A Northern Town but there was something about follow up single The Love Parade that spoke to this 14-year old. It probably helped that I'd fallen 'in love' for the first time, was exploring creative writing (lots of pretentious short stories and bad poetry, in other words) and considered myself a bit of a romantic. 

I bought the limited edition 7" gatefold double pack of The Love Parade from Sound Seekers in Staple Hill (then a suburb of Bristol, now in an entirely different county), which introduced me to a couple of other things. Firstly, Girl In A Million (For Edie Sedgwick), a beautiful song and the first I'd heard of the doomed socialite and Andy Warhol muse. Secondly, Things We Said Today, a stripped back cover of a 1964 song by The Beatles, which originally appeared on A Hard Day's Night.

As of themselves, both clear references for The Dream Academy. When you add that their three albums were co-produced by David Gilmour (first and third) and Lyndsey Buckingham (second), you'll have a pretty good idea of the band's aspirations: classic pop, with a hint of psychedelia, bathed in Californian sunshine. Just what I needed at that time in my life.

Aside from their debut hit, The Dream Academy gained some recognition in the USA when John Hughes used a couple of their songs in his classic movie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Well, I say classic, I didn't actually see it until the 1990s, possibly the early 2000s. No idea why, but probably because I was a bit of a film snob back then and was likely irked by Matthew Broderick's smug gurning from the film poster. My loss.

 

Return visits to Sound Seekers meant that I picked up the 12" singles of their cover of The Smiths' Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want (packaged with a 'free' 12" of Life In A Northern Town) and Indian Summer, presaging their second album, Remembrance Days. 

After that, I lost track of The Dream Academy until I bought a copy of NME in 1990 and read that they were back, with another cover - this time Love by John Lennon - and a guest vocal from Poly Styrene from X-Ray Spex. Apart from the introduction of a fashionable beat and club remixes from Junior Vasquez, it was pretty much business as usual. The UK record buying public sadly remained indifferent to both this and their third album, as did I to be honest, although I got it many years later and belatedly gave it some love.

 

I can still find much to love about The Dream Academy, but I think for the most part it's because their music is inextricably linked to a significant point in my life - early teens, making terrible fashion choices (but they were my terrible choices), finding my own identity and expression, and falling in love.

 

I couldn't whittle down the selection from an hour to 45 minutes, so instead I've split it into two sides. Just imagine it as a late period budget K-Tel or Ronco vinyl compilation and I think it'll work. A more comprehensive compilation, The Morning Lasted All Day, was released in 2014 featuring a newly recorded song, Sunrising, which I've included in today's selection.

In researching the post, I also came across a video of The Love Parade from 1985. It's a bit of an oddity in that it appears to be a performance on Italian TV. The backdrop logo (in reverse) seems to be for a brand of perfume and the unoccupied drum kit in the upper left side space suggests it was part of a larger show. An intriguing few minutes.

 

Side One

1) The Edge Of Forever (Album Version) (1985)

2) The Love Parade (Remix) (1985)

3) Sunrising (2014)

4) In Places On The Run (Album Version) (1985)

5) Lucy September (1990)

6) Mordechai Vanunu (1990)

7) Bound To Be (1985)

Side Two

1) Indian Summer (Extended Version) (1987)

2) The Party (Album Version) (1985)

3) The Demonstration (Unreleased Alt. Mix) (1990)

4) Power To Believe (Album Version) (1987)

5) Life In A Northern Town (Extended) (1985)

6) Girl In A Million (For Edie Sedgwick) (1985)

 

1985: Life In A Northern Town EP: B5

1985: The Dream Academy: A1, A4, A7, B2

1985: The Love Parade EP: A2 (USA 7"), B6

1987: Indian Summer EP: B1 

1987: Remembrance Days: B4

1990: A Different Kind Of Weather: A5

1990: Love EP: A6

2014: The Morning Lasted All Day: A3, B3

 

Side One (29:04) (Box) (Mega)

Side Two (30:01) (Box) (Mega)

Diving For Pearls

Side 1 of a CD-R compiled by Atom Boy @ Metropolis Studios, Shizuoka, Japan, for me and Mrs. K in November 2004.

I've split this 20-track compilation into two vinyl facsimile sides as tracks 10 and 11 feel very much like the close of one side and the start of another. Also, I'm recreating this mix and writing this post very, very late on a Friday night-into-Saturday morning and I'm likely to fall asleep at the keyboard if I attempt the whole mix in one go...

So, this was a gift from my sibling, who was living on the other side of the world at the time. I'm not quite sure what the occasion was - it was out of synch for an anniversary, birthday or Christmas gift so it may well have been a random act of generosity.

On paper, this side is a great mix of alternative classics from the 1980s, nudging into the 1990s, with a ton of teen favourites. The only thing that marred the original CD-R was that the compilation coincided with Atom Boy's discovery of open source mixing and editing software, so every track was cross-faded into the other, without exception to unfortunately irritating effect. My recreation has ditched that for a more traditional, but hopefully more sympathetic segue from one song to the next.

But I can't deny that the track listing is really very wonderful. Side 2 is equally beautiful and you won't have to wait too long to find out why.

1) Bedbugs And Ballyhoo (Single Version): Echo & The Bunnymen (1985)

2) Down On Mission Street (Album Version): Lloyd Cole & The Commotions (1984)

3) Life In A Northern Town (7" Mix): The Dream Academy (1985)

4) Powderfinger (Cover of Neil Young): Cowboy Junkies (1990)

5) An Elegant Chaos (Album Version): Julian Cope (1984)

6) Rainy Season (Album Version): Howard Devoto (1983)

7) Shipbuilding: Robert Wyatt (1982)

8) The End Of The Affair: Weekend (1982)

9) The Last Dictator I: Crime & The City Solution (1990)

10) For One Moment (Cover of Lee Hazlewood): Marc Almond (1986)

1982: La Varieté: 8

1982: Shipbuilding EP: 7

1983: Jerky Versions Of The Dream: 6

1984: Rattlesnakes: 2

1984: World Shut Your Mouth: 5

1985: Bring On The Dancing Horses EP: 1

1985: The Dream Academy: 3

1986: A Woman's Story EP: 10

1990: Paradise Discotheque: 9

1990: The Caution Horses: 4

Side One (40:10)