The first release of this song dating from early 1981 features a mix that has rarely resurfaced on CD re-issues since – on the myriad Bauhaus compilations that have been released over the years, the 1982 ‘Searching For Satori’ EP remix version has been by far the go-to version. The only releases of the original mix to be found on CD appear to be on 1995’s various artists compilation CD ‘Gothic Rock 2 – 80’s Into 90’s’ and 2009’s ‘Omnibus’ boxed set re-issue of ‘Mask’, where it is listed as ‘Kick In The Eye (Original Single Version A Side)’. (I believe this mix may also be on the Canadian ‘The Sky’s Gone Out’ CD too, but have never come by a copy of this to verify – anyone?)
I’ll leave the LP mix, ‘Kick In The Eye 2’ out of this for now, since that is a completely re-recorded version that is very different sonically from the single mixes. On first listen, it is tempting to think there isn’t a great deal of difference between the original 1981 mix and the 1982 remix of ‘Kick In The Eye’. The easiest spot between the two is that 1982 mix gets busier with the percussion, with heavily reverbed tom-tom fills appearing around the 1 minute mark (in the instrumental bridge just after the “It must be the lesson” vocal lines) and then again from the 2’35” approx. point onwards. It is interesting to get the headphones out and compare the different mixes of ‘Kick In The Eye’ though. There is a good stereo spread on the 1981 mix, with the instruments easily distinguishable. By comparison, 1982’s mix almost sounds like it is in mono, a much more compacted, hard hitting sonic experience.
Going back to the ‘Omnibus’ edition of ‘Mask’, it is worth noting something about the 1982 remix version of ‘Kick In The Eye (Searching for Satori)’ (listed as ‘ Kick In The Eye (Single Re-Mix Version)’ on that release). The timing duration indicates 4’02”, much longer than all equivalent timings for this mix. Is it yet another version? No. For some reason, after the normal fade-out there is an extended period of silence, hence the longer duration. Nothing to see here people, move along now…
The original 1981 issue was on 7″ and 12″ – the 7″ came in a nice, black and white picture sleeve. Early copies on thicker card, later pressings on a thinner weight paper. The 12″ version never had a picture sleeve though, just a plain black sleeve with centre label hole cut out. There appear to be no differences in the versions of both ‘Kick In The Eye’ and the B side track, ‘Satori’ on these 7” and 12” original releases.
Both the 7″ and 12″ have A side inscriptions on the space in the run out groove, both stating ‘DANCING ON HOT WAX…’.
