Category: Region crazy

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Kraftwerk ‘Radioactivity’ US 12″ single (Elektra, 0-66486, 1991)

The sleekly re-engineered and re-envisioned ‘Radioactivity’ was a particular standout track from Kraftwerk’s 1991 album ‘The Mix’ and so it was an obvious choice for a single release. In the band’s homeland of Germany and European territories 7”, 12” and CD single editions were issued with mixes by François Kevorkian on the A side and William Orbit on the reverse. (The UK and France also got cassette single formats too.) In both cases, 7” and longer 12” remixes were produced. In the case of the 7” mixes, German language and English language mixes were issued. The 12” mixes were only in English language variations however.

Kraftwerk 'Radioactivity' 1991 US 12" single, front cover design
^ Kraftwerk ‘Radioactivity’ 1991 US 12″ single, front cover design

There was one more mix that managed to see light of day though and that is the ‘William Orbit Hardcore’ Mix’ that was only ever issued at the time on this US 12” single, making it an attractive item to track down on import on my side of the ocean.
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Peter Murphy ‘Cuts You Up’ US Cassingle (Beggars Banquet / RCA / 9140-4-HS, 1990)

In  a previous post  we looked at the four track, promo-only Canadian ‘4 Cuts Deep’ cassette EP that was issued to help push Peter Murphy’s wonderful ‘Deep’ album from late 1989. This time out, while looking a little similar in passing, is the commercially release USA cassingle format for the ‘Cuts You Up’ single itself.

Peter Murphy 'Cuts You Up' US Cassingle front pack design
^ Peter Murphy ‘Cuts You Up’ US Cassingle front pack design

It would prove to be a Peter Murphy classic, well deserved at that. Also issued in the US on 12″ single and a promo-only CD single as well. Continue reading “Peter Murphy ‘Cuts You Up’ US Cassingle (Beggars Banquet / RCA / 9140-4-HS, 1990)”

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New Musik – ‘The Planet Doesn’t Mind’ version craziness

After discovering Gary Numan in 1979 and John Foxx and Ultravox in 1980, New Musik were also one of the earliest electronic bands I really liked, but while they had some initial hits, I always felt they got a raw deal and their arc of acclaim was cut all too short. Because sonically – and lyrically, as the world we inhabit pans out in ever more alarming ways – New Musik were well ahead of the curve and you can hear echoes of the sound that they were mining, particularly on the ‘Warp’ album, in the likes of the dusky, shimmering sonic heaven of the wonderful Ulrich Schnauss in more contemporary times, for example.

New Musik - ‘The Planet Doesn’t Mind’ UK 7” single (promo version)
^ New Musik – ‘The Planet Doesn’t Mind’ UK 7” single (promo version)

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Japan ‘Japan’ US compilation album (Virgin/Epic ARE 37914, 1982)

The third in a series looking at US albums compiled by cherry-picking a couple of already released UK albums to create something else – we started with O.M.D. by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, then on to Heaven 17 – this time it’s yet another Virgin records act and again a self-titled compilation, with Japan.

Japan 1982 US compilation LP front cover
^ Japan 1982 US compilation LP front cover

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Heaven 17 ‘Heaven 17’ US compilation album (Arista AL6606, 1983)

The second in a brief series focusing on US albums compiled by cherry-picking a couple of already released UK albums to create something else – last time out it was O.M.D. by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, this time it’s the turn of Heaven 17. Released in America and in Europe, this release pulled together much of the band’s debut album, ‘Penthouse & Pavement’ along with a couple of tracks that would shortly thereafter be included on the second album, ‘The Luxury Gap’, plus the early single ‘I’m Your Money’. There was no UK equivalent release for this album, so I came to it many years later as one of those interesting regional curiosities that the the record industry of the time would throw up, and which were exotic manna for collectors such as I.

Heaven 17 USA compilation LP - front
^ Heaven 17 USA compilation LP – front

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