The Fall vs. 2003

Susan vs. Youthclub / Janet vs. Johnny - Action (UK), 2002

"The Fall vs. 2003" must have been an in-joke, no doubt in reference to the seemingly interminable time it took to get the Country On The Click LP finished. The LP was eventually shelved anyway, with only these two tracks as official evidence of what was to be. The B-side - in a radically altered version - would appear on their next album.

listen to "Susan vs. Youthclub":

listen to "Janet vs. Johnny":

Peter Gabriel

Games Without Frontiers - Mercury, 1980

The U.S. radio edit of his first hit, complete with altered lyrics. The mix is actually top-notch - I prefer it to the LP version.

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John Cale

Rosegarden Funeral Of Sores - IRS, 1980

This is the B-side of of "Mercenaries (Ready For War)" which was a studio version of the leadoff track from his 1979 LP Sabotage/Live. One of his more bizarre recordings (which is saying a lot), this tune was later popularized by British goth rockers Bauhaus, who also released it as a B-side.

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Wazmo Nariz

Wacker Drive - Stiff (UK), 1978

Wazmo Nariz was a minor New Wave sensation in Chicago in the late '70s. He released a few singles on the local Fiction label, and was later picked up by IRS for a full length LP. One single - "Tele-Tele Telephone", was released in the UK by Stiff Records with an alternate B-side: "Wacker Drive".

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The Buffalo Springfield

Mr. Soul - Atco, 1967

Okay, the sound is a little rough. This was obviously trapped in a jukebox at some point in its life, where it seems to have been quite popular. To make matters worse, it's pressed of the cheaper, brittle polystyrene that so many American 45s are made from (usually good for about ten plays, tops). But it's worth a listen just to hear the mix as Neil and the band originally wanted it to sound, before it got all screwed up on the LP version.

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Yo La Tengo

I'm Your Puppet - Matador (UK), 2006

Released as the B-side to "Mr. Tough", this is their cover of the 1966 James & Bobby Purify hit.

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Buzzcocks - I Believe

IRS 9010, 1979
 
Their first domestic 45 release (c/w "Something's Gone Wrong Again"), in support of their LP A Different Kind Of Tension. Their US label opted not to promote it with "You Say You Don't Love Me" (as released in the UK) and instead chose this album track, going so far as to create a special edited version for this purpose. A wise choice in my opinion ("I believe" is a superior track by far), and a classy move on the part of the label to take such an interest in promoting the band. Unfortunately, the single failed to chart.

Julian Cope / Echo & The Bunnymen

A couple of similar EPs from a couple of similar artists.

Julian Cope - "Sunspots" EP - Mercury (UK), 1985

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Echo and The Bunnymen - "Seven Seas" EP (a/k/a "Life At Brian's") - Korova (UK), 1984

For starters, both bands came out of the late '70s Liverpool psychedelic scene (in fact, both frontmen started in the same band). More specifically, both bands released very strange double-EPs - disguised as singles - within a year of each other.

Cope's remixed "Sunspots" - from 1984's Fried - is added to three LP outtakes. Most notable is the eccentric "I Went On A Chourney": a minimalist techno ditty with found dialog (Julian himself?).

Echo and The Bunnymen's "Seven Seas" (from the Ocean Rain LP) is joined with four tracks described as "Recorded live at Liverpool Cathedral for the programme 'Play At Home'", a rather loosely played, unplugged batch of tracks. The performances are hit-or-miss, but I do enjoy the grooved out Donovan-style "Villiers Terrace", and their reading of "All You Need Is Love" is more fun than you'd expect.

Graham Parker & The Rumour

a few goodies from my Graham Parker 45s:


The Pink Parker (EP) - Mercury, 1977
 
After two flawless albums, Graham Parker and company put out this nifty little 7-inch, which kicked off with a brilliant cover of The Trammps' "Hold Back the Night". The second half is killer, containing live versions of "Soul Shoes" and "White Honey". And... it's pink!

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The Bleep - Vertigo (UK), 1977
 
B-side of "The New York Shuffle". I have no idea if this was meant as a joke, or if the label was really concerned over this to start with. What we have here is a different take of "The Raid", with all the drug references bleeped out. Worth a listen, though I strongly recommend taking out Stick To Me after hearing this and put on the proper version.