The debut release from The Passions released in Spring 1979, a double A side single – both sides are something of an earlier draft of of the sound that can be heard on their debut album, ‘Michael and Miranda’, with ‘Needles and Pills’ leaning a bit towards a more traditional rock vocabulary, I dare say. Vocally quite different, ‘Needles and Pills’ especially, due to the presence of Mitch Barker on vocals. This single is the only recorded outing for this version of the band – basically the same line-up as recoreded ‘Michael and Miranda’ but with the addition of Mitch on vocals, though ‘Body and Soul’ has the more familiar presence of Barbara Gogan sharing much of the vocals and of the two songs it more obviously fits the Passions template, as evinced by the fact that it lasted in the set list for gigs through 1980. ‘Needles and Pills’ was written by the bands original guitarist, Dack Dyde, though by the time of the recording he had left the band.

Continue reading “The Passions ‘Needles and Pills’/’Body and Soul’ 7″ single (Soho, SH5, 1979)”