Small objects of desire

14 May, 202127 January, 2022

Kraftwerk – ‘Die Roboter’ MusikExpress magazine German 7″ single (Kling Klang/Parlophone, 2017)

What is it? A one-sided 7″ single with a 3 minute 33 seconds edit of the ‘3-D’ re-recording of ‘Die Roboter’ given away exclusively with the German magazine MusikExpress in its August 2017 issue. The flipside, rather than completely blank, still has a red label design with the pixelated band members logo and has an etched artwork design on the vinyl, with ‘KRAFTWERK’ (top) and ‘12345678’ (bottom) in the familiar pixelated font so beloved of many a Kraftwerk release from 1981 onwards.

This is the first of what now appears to be something of a biennial series of 7″ releases for Kraftwerk in MusikExpress magazine. It was followed in 2019 with a new edit of ‘Autobahn’ on blue vinyl 7″, which was featured in a previous post. Continue reading “Kraftwerk – ‘Die Roboter’ MusikExpress magazine German 7″ single (Kling Klang/Parlophone, 2017)”

7 May, 202114 May, 2021

Button badge goodness – Post-Punk Selection 1 (Joy Division, Gang of Four, Wire)

A small but historical selections of period badges, of a Post-Punk flavour this time round. None of your recent eBay purchases here, I can vouch that all of these designs pictured date back to 1981/82, which is when I picked them up and swiftly fastened them to lapel or pocket flap to sport around town. They would have almost certainly been from 1-UP records in Aberdeen, when they were still to be found on Rosemount Viaduct.

Continue reading “Button badge goodness – Post-Punk Selection 1 (Joy Division, Gang of Four, Wire)”

28 April, 202127 January, 2022

Side by side: René Halkett and David Jay – ‘Nothing’ / ‘Armour’ 7″ (1981) and 20th Anniversary re-issue CD (2001)

1982 into 1983 was when I first really got the Bauhaus bug. Summer of 1983 into Autumn of that year in particular it reached fever-pitch, with having been able to see Bauhaus live and with the release of the band’s final album and various solo project releases from Tones On Tail and David J. This would continue for some time as I delved back into the band’s previous releases and other solo project releases.

Amongst them was the release in focus here. It sounded intriguing, from what little I knew about it. René Halkett, original member of The Bauhaus (or Staatliches Bauhaus Weimar’ to be more formal) makes contact with bass player of Bauhaus and a friendship emerges that leads to a collaborative single. Bauhaus were regular pilloried in the music press for their assumed pretentiousness and… oh my… this surely came with a capital P in their eyes!

Rene Halkett and David Jay - 'Nothing' / 'Armour' 7" front cover — *^ René Halkett and David Jay – ‘Nothing’ / ‘Armour’ 7″ front cover*

Continue reading “Side by side: René Halkett and David Jay – ‘Nothing’ / ‘Armour’ 7″ (1981) and 20th Anniversary re-issue CD (2001)”

14 April, 202127 January, 2022

Button badge goodness – Echo and the Bunnymen Summer 1983 UK tour badges

The one and only time I have seen Echo and the Bunnymen play live was on one of the the Scottish dates of their short ‘Ley Lines’ tour of Summer 1983. The band were in fine form at this time, and for me 1983 was a great year of exciting gig going, this gig one of a few memorable occasions that summer. Naturally, mementoes were required so these badges and a t-shirt were purchased from the merch stall. The print quality of the button badges is not the sharpest – it’s not the photos – the enamel badge is a beauty though and it’s still in decent nick despite having seen active service on my safari (the Jobson influence, natch) / combat jacket lapels a fair bit!

Continue reading “Button badge goodness – Echo and the Bunnymen Summer 1983 UK tour badges”

14 March, 202127 January, 2022

Button badge goodness: Ultravox [Part 3]

A further selection of Ultravox badges – this time from 2009’s ‘Return To Eden’ tour merchandise offer. I was able to make a couple of shows on this tour and one from the following year’s ‘Return To Eden II’ tour and across these there was no shortage of goodies on offer from the merch stall to choose from. This time out a selection of the badges and a key ring… I’m not ruling out the mugs and programmes in future posts! Some of these look a bit fizzy – its not the photos, the print quality on the actual badges just isn’t all that sharp to begin with.

Ultravox 2009 'Return To Eden' key ring merchandise item — *^ Ultravox 2009 ‘Return To Eden’ key ring merchandise item*

Continue reading “Button badge goodness: Ultravox [Part 3]”