Category: Region crazy

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

Suzanne Vega – ‘Luka’ UK cassingle (A&M, VEGAC10, 1987)

Suzanne Vega is an artist who I happened upon courtesy of the UK BBC television channel’s long running music series ‘Whistle Test’ in October 1985. It wasn’t the kind of style I’d have thought I would normally like, but there was something intriguing and ‘Marlene On The Wall’ proved to be catchy and a minor hit. Intriguing enough that I bought the debut album in early 1986 and became a firm fan from then on. There was a certain cool elegance and mysteriousness to the music on the whole and not the straight ahead folk I was expecting (other than perhaps ‘The Queen and the Soldier’, which I’ve never cared for).

Suzanne Vega 'Luka' UK cassingle - front
^ Suzanne Vega ‘Luka’ UK cassingle – front

Continue reading “Suzanne Vega – ‘Luka’ UK cassingle (A&M, VEGAC10, 1987)”

Posted on

Colin Newman – ‘Feigned Hearing’ Belgian 7″ (Crammed Discs, CRAM 13457, 1986)

This obscure little gem was a single peeled from Colin Newman’s 1986 solo album, ‘Commercial Suicide’ (which I feel likely will be covered here at a later date) and acted as wonderful summary of the pastoral synthesized pop that I’d likely describe the album as. Well, to be fair, Colin Newman himself used the word pastoral to describe the music on the album, in the accompanying ‘Interview’ 12″ that also appeared in the promotional orbit of this album. But there can be no denying that the sweetly toned synths, absence of familiar drums and percussion does lend this single – and most if not all of the parent album – a particular sound that is quite unlike anything else that Newman had done up to that time (though would revisit to some degree on the following ‘It Seems’ album, arguably).

Colin Newman - 'Feigned Hearing' Belgian 7" front cover design
^ Colin Newman – ‘Feigned Hearing’ Belgian 7″ front cover design

Continue reading “Colin Newman – ‘Feigned Hearing’ Belgian 7″ (Crammed Discs, CRAM 13457, 1986)”

Posted on

Danielle Dax – ‘Up Amongst The Golden Spires’ Japanese CD (Vap, 85009-32, 1987)

Once again, time to focus on the ever wonderful and enduring work of Danielle Dax. A relatively straightforward playing-catch-up release, ‘Up Amongst The Golden Spires’ is a Japan-only compilation album that pooled together all of the tracks originally released on the ‘Pop-Eyes’ album (1983) and the ‘Jesus Egg That Wept’ mini-album (1984), released on vinyl format late 1986 and on CD format in February 1987 on the Japanese VAP label. 1987 would be a pivotal year for Dax, with the release of the ‘Inky Bloaters’ album and ever increased media profile. The VAP label would go on to release the exclusive album ‘The Chemical Wedding’, covered in detail in an earlier post,  in November 1987 which as well as mingling some previously released material also included versions unreleased elsewhere to this day, as well as the initial release of material that would surface in other territories until later.

Danielle Dax - 'Up Amongst The Golden Spires' Japanese CD - front insert design and disc label
^ Danielle Dax – ‘Up Amongst The Golden Spires’ Japanese CD – front insert design and disc label

Continue reading “Danielle Dax – ‘Up Amongst The Golden Spires’ Japanese CD (Vap, 85009-32, 1987)”

Posted on

Talking Heads – ‘Take Me To The River’ / ‘Psycho Killer’ UK cassingle (Sire, SPC 9, 1981)

This curious little release was issued as part of a series cassette format singles of WEA label artists, such as Gary Numan and Tubeway Army as featured in a pervious post. Packaged in cute little flip-top box packs, the series shared a common theme of design/layout and would pair two the best tracks by each of the artists chosen. As well as this Talking Heads release, the series featured The Pretenders (two releases, no less), Angelic Upstarts, Rezillos, Tubeway Army, The Ramones, Gary Numan, Saxon and finally Jane Birkin.

Talking Heads - 'Take Me To The River' / 'Psycho Killer' 1981 UK Cassingle - flip-top pack front
^ Talking Heads – ‘Take Me To The River’ / ‘Psycho Killer’ 1981 UK Cassingle – flip-top pack front

Continue reading “Talking Heads – ‘Take Me To The River’ / ‘Psycho Killer’ UK cassingle (Sire, SPC 9, 1981)”