Category: Promo only

Posted on

Various Artists – ‘The Flashback Four – Hits and Rarities’ US Promo CD (Sire / Warner Bros Records / Reprise / Mute, PRO-CD-5930, 1992)

This curious little promo CD came to mind recently with the news that Talking Heads – a particular favourite of mine, for a certain period of their work at least – will be releasing a series of deluxe reissue sets that gather together the original albums plus various related recordings, starting with ‘Talking Heads: 77’, obviously enough. I must confess straight off the bat however, I find past re-issues of Talking Heads material a mixture of frustrating and essential. Frustrating because while previous re-issues did come with some bonus material, so many particular versions – those released on singles particularly – have either never been re-released digitally, or if they have been, are limited to downloads/streaming and only in restricted territories. For the essential examples, well… look no further than the Record Store Day release from earlier this year, the ‘Live at WCOZ 77’ live double album that captures the band in fine form (and some of which had been included on their fantastic 1982’ live double album ‘The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads’. Already, based on some of the music forum discussion so far, these releases likely have their work cut out to please all. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Various Artists - ‘The Flashback Four - Hits and Rarities’ US Promo CD front cover design
^ Various Artists – ‘The Flashback Four – Hits and Rarities’ US Promo CD front cover design

Continue reading “Various Artists – ‘The Flashback Four – Hits and Rarities’ US Promo CD (Sire / Warner Bros Records / Reprise / Mute, PRO-CD-5930, 1992)”

Posted on

Side by side: Hard Corps – Je Suis Passée versions

Returning once more to an old favourite featured many times before, Hard Corps, and their wonderful single that should have been a hit, ‘Je Suis Passée’ and all its many versions. It has been a long while in the offing, this post, what prompted me to post it now is the newly released compilation CD celebrating the work of producer Martin Rushent, ‘Autonomy – The Productions Of Martin Rushent’, available from Ace Records, as this includes the 7″ single mix of ‘Je Suis Passée’, its first release on CD format.

Hard Corps 'Je Suis Passée' multiple versions sleeve assemblage
^ Hard Corps ‘Je Suis Passée’ multiple versions sleeve assemblage

From the moment I heard Hard Corps I was hooked – that was in the summer of 1984 with the release of the ‘Dirty’/Respirer’ double A side 12″ (and later 7″) single. That love for the band became even greater with ‘Je Suis Passée’. Continue reading “Side by side: Hard Corps – Je Suis Passée versions”

Posted on

David Sylvian ‘Everything And Nothing’ Radio Edit UK two track promo CD single (Virgin VSCDJ1789, 2000)

His contract with Virgin coming to an end, the year 2000 saw an attractive and interesting selection of Sylvian’s work pulled together as the ‘Everything and Nothing’ compilation CD. The selections reached back to the 1980 period with Japan through to previously unreleased works that were leftovers from the previous year’s ‘Dead Bees On A Cake’ album, finished off in 2000. The album kicked off with one such leftover, ‘The Scent Of Magnolia’. This featured promo CD contains a unique 3’28” ‘Radio Edit’ of that song.

David Sylvian 'Everything And Nothing' Radio Edit two track promo CD single - front cover design
^ David Sylvian ‘Everything And Nothing’ Radio Edit two track promo CD single – front cover design

Tracklisting:

  1. The Scent Of Magnolia (Radio Edit) 3’28”
  2. Ghosts (Version 2000) 3’43”

Continue reading “David Sylvian ‘Everything And Nothing’ Radio Edit UK two track promo CD single (Virgin VSCDJ1789, 2000)”

Posted on

Peter Murphy ‘4 Cuts Deep’ Canadian Promo-only Cassette EP (Beggars Banquet / Vertigo PROC 51, 1990)

‘Deep’ was very much Peter Murphy’s breakthrough solo album and perhaps it was in no small part due to the promotional push of the record company machinery of the era, still some years away from the MP3 meltdown and subsequent diminished times. This cassette is one of those curious promo-only releases of the era picked up along the way, a reminder of those times.

Peter Murphy '4 Cuts Deep' Canadian Promo-only Cassette EP - front pack design
^ Peter Murphy ‘4 Cuts Deep’ Canadian Promo-only Cassette EP – front pack design

Continue reading “Peter Murphy ‘4 Cuts Deep’ Canadian Promo-only Cassette EP (Beggars Banquet / Vertigo PROC 51, 1990)”

Posted on

Peter Murphy – ‘A Strange Kind Of Love’ Remixes US Promo CD (Beggars Banquet/RCA, 2625-2-HDJ, 1990)

Three albums in to Peter Murphy’s solo career, 1989’s ‘Deep’ brought the ex-Bauhaus frontman a high degree of well-earned success in the US, having put in the stateside touring miles the year before and with the new LP. Success to such an extent that a series of single releases in addition to the pre-album single ‘Cuts You Up’ saw light of day in the US. These were of high appeal to a fan and collector such as I, on the other side of the Atlantic, where ‘Deep’ wouldn’t even receive a UK release until 1990 and would merit only the one accompanying single release, such were the disparity in fortunes between homeland and the US.

Peter Murphy - A Strange Kind Of Love US promo insert front cover design
^ Peter Murphy – A Strange Kind Of Love US promo insert front cover design

Continue reading “Peter Murphy – ‘A Strange Kind Of Love’ Remixes US Promo CD (Beggars Banquet/RCA, 2625-2-HDJ, 1990)”