Decadance I: 1990

Side 1 of a mock cassette compilation, kicking off a new series of mixtapes that never were, and a sequel of sorts to one that I posted last August and September.

As 1989 turned into 1990 I had the idea of creating a themed series of cassette compilations, looking back at the previous decade and inspiringly titled Decade. Five C90s, one year per side, 12 songs apiece. 

I recorded the first volume on 3rd February 1990. Thirty five years later, I've finally got around to the follow up.

Decadance (sic) was originally the title of a planned companion to the Decade series, featuring selected 12" versions of 80s songs. I've appropriated it for this series instead, intentional misspelling and all, starting obviously with 1990.

The next five weekends will feature each year of the 90s, sticking with the same format of a dozen songs that dip into my record collection, which grew exponentially during the decade as I got a regular wage and a increasing addiction to music.

This was a bloody tough one to begin with. My 'shortlist' ran to over 50 songs. I decided quite early on that 1990 was going to be limited to more dance-oriented music. Although I still buying lots of guitar-based and indie records, the songs here are more reflective of what I was leaning into and hearing when I was out and about.

So, that immediately relegated Pixies, Lush, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Mazzy Star, Inspiral Carpets and, reluctantly, World Of Twist. Being in the list of 1990s biggest sellers was no guarantee either, as Sinéad O'Connor, Maria McKee, Madonna found out to their cost. 

And Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer and especially Turtle Power by Partners In Kryme were proof if needed that being in the Top 15 best-selling singles of 1990 does not mean that the record buying public was right. Although I agonised longer than perhaps I should have about whether to include Infinity (1990's...Time For The Guru) by Guru Josh (RIP).

That said, two-thirds of today's selection were Top 40, and I've even managed to include two #1's with Beats International and Adamski (who naughtily didn't co-headline with Seal) although I would have sworn that there were three.

In fact, Groove Is In The Heart by Deee-Lite didn't hit the top spot. It was kept at #2 for two weeks by the re-release of The Joker by The Steve Miller Band, before Maria McKee came in with Show Me Heaven and ruined it for both of them.

Before I'd picked any of the other songs, I knew 1990 would begin with Renegade Soundwave, simply because I loved their singles and debut album, Soundclash.  Andrew Weatherall's game changing overhaul of Primal Scream with Loaded was a strong contender but inevitably was the only way to end the selection.

In between, there are perhaps some obvious choices, with The KLF, EMF and The Beloved but hopefully a few pleasant surprises too. 

Of the singles that stalled outside the Top 50, The Fall's inspired collaboration with Coldcut was huge for me, as was The Shamen's game changing album En-Tact. The single version of Make It MIne is a different mix, but the version with the rap by Rhyme & Reason that was so cheesy it was cool is the definitive in my opinion.

As well as samples aplenty, a couple of used another song as the entire foundation of their own, to startling effect. Beats International's cover of Just Be Good To Me by The S.O.S. Band laid Lindy Layton's vocals over the rhythm of Guns Of Brixton by The Clash, with a re-recorded verse lifted from Johnny Dynell & New York 88's Jam Hot was just inspired. 

As was A Tribe Called Quest's debut Top 50 hit, Bonita Applebum, whose pairing with Carly Simon & Chic 1982 hit Why? elevated both songs to another level entirely.

Although never in the same league as Andrew Weatherall, I liked Paul Oakenfold's remixes and whilst he's represented here, you may be scratching your heads wondering why I've left off his frankly brilliant remix of Step On by Happy Mondays (#5 in April 1990) for his arguably lesser known remix of Nothing by Frazier Chorus (#51 in August 1990).

Despite Step On coming out earlier in the year, I actually bought the 12" singles of Cloud 8 and Nothing first. Both featured Oakenfold remixes (I'd also recommend the limited edition Chad Jackson reworks of Nothing) and both were a surprising and pleasing departure for Frazier Chorus. Not that it helped them in the commercial sense, unfortunately,  but look what success did to Happy Mondays...

As an added bonus, this time around, I've included info at the end on when each single's peak (UK) chart placing and date, and the respective EP or album the featured version is lifted from. Well, it keeps me occupied and off the streets.

It will come as no surprise that Sunday will take a look at 1991. 

The Top 10 best selling singles of that year included Bryan Adams, Queen, The Simpsons, Chesney Hawkes and Color Me Badd. You may be relieved to know that none of them will be showing up here.

1) Probably A Robbery (7" Remix By Daniel Miller & Rico Conning): Renegade Soundwave
2) Telephone Thing (Album Version By Coldcut): The Fall
3) Unbelievable (Album Version By Ralph Jezzard): EMF
4) Make It Mine (V2.5) (Remix By The Shamen & 'Evil' Eddie Richards): The Shamen ft. Rhyme & Reason
5) Hello (Album Version By Martyn Phillips): The Beloved
6) What Time Is Love? (Live At Trancentral) (7" Version): The KLF ft. MC Bello & The Children Of The Revolution

7) Dub Be Good To Me (Album Version By Norman Cook): Beats International ft. Lindy Layton

8) Bonita Applebum (7" Why? Edit By CJ Mackintosh & Robin Hancock): A Tribe Called Quest

9) Groove Is In The Heart (LP Version By Deee-Lite & Mike Rogers): Deee-Lite ft. Bootsy Collins & Q-Tip

10) Nothing (7" Edit By Paul Oakenfold & Steve Osborne): Frazier Chorus

11) Killer (Edit By Adamski & Mike 'Spike' Drake): Adamski ft. Seal

12) Loaded (Andrew Weatherall Mix) (7" Version): Primal Scream

27th Jan 1990: Extricate (#58): 2

11th Feb 1990: Happiness (#19): 5

18th Feb 1990: Probably A Robbery EP (#38): 1

25th Feb 1990: Dub Be Good To Me EP (#1): 7

18th Mar 1990: Loaded EP (#16): 12

6th May 1990: Killer EP (#1): 11

12th Aug 1990: Bonita Applebum EP (#47): 8

26th Aug 1990: Nothing EP (#51): 10

9th Sep 1990: World Clique (#2): 9

9th Sep 1990: What Time Is Love? EP (#5): 6

22nd Sep 1990: En-Tact (#42): 4

25th Nov 1990: Schubert Dip (#3): 3

Side One (47:24) (GD) (M)

Maman Chérie

Celebrating Neneh Cherry, born 10th March 1964, and in my opinion one of the greatest artists ever to grace this planet.

 

Sometimes, this blog virtually writes itself, the planets aligning to provide serendipitous moments and opportunities.

 

Realising a short while ago that it was Neneh's 60th birthday today kick started this week's entire birthday-themed posts. 

 

Today is Mother's Day. Sundanese is the second largest language spoken in Indonesia. The Sundanese word for mother is...Neneh.

 

Chérie translates from French as darling, but Neneh also adopted the name for an EP of remixes by French artists in 1997. 

 

So really, it was always going to be Neneh Cherry today, whether I was consciously aware of it or not. 

 

On the surface, Neneh has 'only' released four solo albums since Raw Like Sushi turned the world on its head in 1988. But her work and cultural impact goes much deeper and wider than that.

 

School drop out at 14. Arriving in London at 15 and hooking up with The Slits. The Cherries. New Age Steppers. Rip Rig + Panic. Hanging out with The Wild Bunch in Bristol and the origins of Buffalo Stance as a B-side remix for Morgan-McVey (the latter soon-to-be husband and musical partner Cameron McVey).

 

And then there's Neneh continual collaboration and reinvention, with Matt Johnson (The The), Tricky, Seven Seconds with Youssou N'Dour, appearing on Top Of The Pops whilst pregnant, effortlessly brilliant in the 2007 BBC2 cookery show Neneh and Andi – Dish It Up with bezzy mate (and Rip Rig + Panic bandmate) Andi Oliver.

Continuing to astonish in the 21st century, Neneh has worked with Swedish trio The Thing and formed cirKus with husband Cameron McVey, daughter Lolita Moon and Matt Kent. Neneh's last two albums have been a further evolution of her music in partnership with Kieran Hebden aka Four Tet.

 

Bearing all of this in mind, there's no way that I could do justice to Neneh with merely one Dubhed selection. So, to celebrate, here are two one-hour selections, twenty-two tracks strong. Not a comprehensive career-spanning collection - no New Age Steppers, for example - but it does attempt to convey why I think Neneh is one of the greatest artists ever to grace this planet.

 

There's a self-deprecating comment attributed to Neneh as a "singer that does a bit of rapping". She is - and always has been - so much more. An icon and a legend, in the true sense of the words.

 

Happy birthday, Neneh, and thank you. You are loved.

 

Volume One

1) Money Love (Perfecto Mix By Paul Oakenfold & Steve Osborne): Neneh Cherry (1992)

2) You're My Kind Of Climate (Party Mix): Rip Rig + Panic (1982)

3) Weightless (Album Version By Kieran Hebden): Neneh Cherry (2014)

4) Buffalo Stance (Give Me A Muthuf***ing Breakbeat (Sukka Mix) By The Dynamik Duo): Neneh Cherry (1988)

5) Unattended Bag (Whatever/Whatever Unreleased Mix By Justin Strauss & Bryan Mette): cirKus (2009)

6) Kong (Parris Remix By Dwayne Parris-Robinson): Neneh Cherry (2018)

7) Kisses On The Wind (Moody Mix By David Morales): Neneh Cherry (1989)

8) You've Got Me Thinking (Unreleased Mix): The Beloved ft. Neneh Cherry (1993)

9) Think Twice...: Groove Armada ft. Neneh Cherry (2002)

10) Undecided (Deep Radio Mix By Deep Forest): Youssou N'Dour ft. Neneh Cherry (1994)

11) Buddy X (Masters At Work R&B Version): Neneh Cherry (1993)

12) Had You In Me: Neneh Cherry ft. Tricky (1998)

 

Volume Two

1) Bob Hope Takes Risks (12" Version): Rip Rig + Panic (1981)

2) Slow Train To Dawn (12" Version): The The ft. Neneh Cherry (1986)

3) Dream Baby Dream (Remixed By Four Tet aka Kieran Hebden) (Cover of Suicide): Neneh Cherry & The Thing (2012)

4) Crack Baby: Neneh Cherry (1996)

5) Koochie (Air Remix By Jean-Benoît Dunckel & Nicolas Godin): Neneh Cherry (1997)

6) Together Now: Nearly God ft. Neneh Cherry (1996)

7) Everything (Vilod High Blood Pressure Mix By Ricardo Villalobos & Max Loderbauer): Neneh Cherry (2014)

8) Accordion (Jim O'Rourke Remix): Neneh Cherry & The Thing (2012)

9) Manchild (Smith N Mighty Remix By Rob Smith & Ray Mighty): Neneh Cherry (1989)

10) Woman (La Funk Mob Remix): Neneh Cherry (1998)

 

Volume One (1:04:26) (GD) (M)

Volume Two (1:01:54) (GD) (M)

Saturday's Not Alright For Fighting, Elton

How about some love, peace and harmony instead?

 

1) Love, Peace And Harmony (Remixed By Kurt Munkacsi & Ivan Ivan): Bow Wow Wow (1983)

2) Sweet Harmony (Album Version): The Beloved (1992)

3) Our Love Is God: The Impossibles (1991)

4) Harmony (Cover of Elton John): Jesse Malin (2008)

5) Peace In Our Time (Cover of The Imposter): Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine (1993)

6) Harmony 5 (Accordion): Spiritualized (2008)

7) One Love (Remix By Adrian Sherwood) (7" Version): The Stone Roses (1992)

8) Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Remixed By Flowered Up) (Cover of Neil Young): Saint Etienne ft. Moira Lambert (1990)

9) We Come In Peace: Bobby Conn & The Glass Gypsies (2004)

10) Peace And Love: Flesh For Lulu (1984)

11) Harmony 1 (Mellotron): Spiritualized (2008)

12) Peace (SixToes Remix): Depeche Mode (2009)

13) Peace And Love: Sylvia Tella (1986)

 

1983: Love, Peace And Harmony EP: 1

1984: Flesh For Lulu: 10 

1986: Will You Still Want Me: 13

1990: It's On/Only Love Can Break Your Heart (The Catalogue magazine promo flexi 7"): 8

1991: The Drum EP: 3 

1992: Waterfall EP: 7

1993: Conscience: 2 

1993: Peace Together: 5 

2004: The Homeland: 9

2008: On Your Sleeve: 4

2008: Songs In A&E: 6, 11

2009: Peace EP: 12

Saturday's Not Alright For Fighting, Elton (46:11) (KF) (Mega)

Moving Violations

Celebrating Andy 'Fletch' Fletcher of Depeche Mode, 8th July 1961 to 26th May 2022.

 

Without this blog becoming a musical obituary, I couldn't let more sad news this week pass with no comment or tribute. Last August, I wrote about seeing Depeche Mode live in concert at the age of 15, the first gig I'd ever been to. 

I'm going to let the music pretty much speak for itself today. This selection features both sides of a mixtape that I compiled 20th October 1990. By no means the first Depeche Mode compilation cassette I did, this one features a slew of remixes by François Kevorkian, Flood, Daniel Miller, The Beatmasters, Phil Harding, Tim Simenon, The Beloved, as well as relatively rarer (at the time) US mixes by Joseph Watt, Bert Bevans and Robert Margouleff.

 

A number of these are vinyl rips, so apologies for the variable audio quality.

 

Thanks, Fletch, you did good.

 

Side One

1) Route 66 (Remixed By The Beatmasters) (Cover of Nat King Cole & The King Cole Trio) (1987)

2) Sea Of Sin (Sensoria) (Remix By François Kevorkian & Alan Friedman) (1990)

3) A Question Of Lust (Remix By Flood) (1986)

4) World In My Eyes (Mode To Joy) (Remix By The Beloved) (1990)

5) Fly On The Windscreen (Death Mix By Gareth Jones) (1985)

6) Enjoy The Silence (The Quad: Final Edit By Tim Simenon) (1990)

7) The Things You Said (Album Version) (1987)

8) Nothing (Album Version) (1987)

9) A Question Of Time (Remix By Phil Harding) (1986)

 

Side Two

1) Behind The Wheel (Beatmasters Mix) (1987)

2) But Not Tonight (U.S. Extended Mix By Robert Margouleff) (1986)

3) Pleasure, Little Treasure (Glitter Mix By Depeche Mode & Dave Bascombe) (1987)

4) Get The Balance Right! (Combination Mix By Daniel Miller & Depeche Mode) (Cold End) (1983)

5) Flexible (Pre-Deportation Mix By Bert Bevans) (1985)

6) (Set Me Free) Remotivate Me (12" Mix) (Edited By Joseph Watt) (1984)

7) Dangerous (Sensual Mix By Flood) (1989)

 

Side One (46:02) (KF) (Mega)

Side Two (45:38) (KF) (Mega)

Now These Winter Skies Turn Blue And Bright

Again eschewing a 'best of' list, today's selection is a drop in the ocean of artists, songs and albums that I've discovered, found again after a very long gap or just replaced with a CD or digital version during 2021. Most of the 'new' discoveries are thanks to the brilliant blogs that have proved a lifeline for my musical and mental health, some of which are listed to the right. At the time of writing, my favourite reissue this year is the beautiful 5CD New Age Steppers collection, Stepping Into A New Age 1980-2012, followed very closely by the 2CD expanded reissue of The Beloved's Happiness. A belated purchase of SAULT's back catalogue at the same time as this year's 'NINE' has been a gift that keeps on giving. My bank balance hates me but, aurally speaking, it's been an embarrassment of riches this year.

1) We Persuade Ourselves We Are Immortal (Album Version): The Amorphous Androgynous & Peter Hammill (2020)

2) What It Is (Album Version): Angel Olsen (2019)

3) December Sunlight (Remixed 2020) (Cover of The The): Anna Domino (2020)

4) Men Like You (Album Version): Archive (2002)

5) The Sun Rising (Evening Session Remix): The Beloved (1989)

6) Touch (Album Version By Trevor Morais): Benjamin Zephaniah (2005)

7) Insomniacs Tonight (Extended Mix By Blancmange & Benge): Blancmange (2020)

8) She's A Mystery: Dot Allison ft. Keith Tenniswood (2012)

9) Hi-Fi Gets A Pounding (Pts. 1 & 2): Dub Syndicate (1982)

10) Heartbreak House: Hifi Sean ft. Maggie De Monde (2016)

11) Train Is Coming: Iklan ft. Law Holt (2020)

12) Charles XII Of Sweden (Tamworth Session): Julian Cope & The Teardrop Explodes (1989)

13) Wounded Animal: New Age Steppers (2012)

14) Positive Force Dub (Remix By Prince Fatty): Nostalgia 77 (2014)

15) Homage To A Memory (EKAC Demo): The Porch Song Anthology (2006)

16) J.J.'s: Port Sulphur (2020)

17) Tonight: Prince Fatty ft. Big Youth & Earl Sixteen (2019)

18) Andalucia: Psychemagik (2012)

19) Get Up (Live @ Orlando Arena, Florida, 29-30 April 1989): R.E.M. (1989)

20) Fearless: SAULT (2020)

21) Danger (Edit): Smith & Mighty ft. Kelz & Rudy Lee) (2002)

2002: You All Look The Same To Me: 4

2005: Naked: 6

2011: Songs For A Green World: The Classic 1989 Broadcast: 19

2012: Pioneers 01: 8

2014: Prince Fatty Meets Nostalgia 77 In The Kingdom Of Dub: 14

2016: Ft.: 10 

2016: Spell Of The Trembling Earth (Grande Edition): 15

2017: Ambience In Dub 1982-1985: 9

2017: Psychemagik Archive 2009-2017: 18

2019: In The Viper's Shadow: 17

2020: Album Number 1 Featuring Law Holt: 11

2020: Compendium: 16

2020: Connected Sequences: 21

2020: East And West/North And South (Collaborations 1984-2020) (Deluxe Edition): 3 

2020: Expanded Mindset: 7

2020: Happiness/Wolf Studios 1988-1990 (Special Edition): 5

2020: UNTITLED (Rise): 20

2020: We Persuade Ourselves We Are Immortal: 1

2021: Cold War Psychedelia: 12

2021: Song Of The Lark And Other Far Memories: 2 

2021: Stepping Into A New Age 1980-2012: 13

 

Now These Winter Skies Turn Blue And Bright (1:31:50)

Wise Up!

Side 2 of a mixtape, recorded December 1991 to January 1992. I'd clearly recently bought Keeping The Faith: A Creation Dance Compilation, as it features heavily on both sides. I'd also taken delivery of a box of stuff that I'd picked up during my short time living and working in Perth, which I'd packaged and shipped home via sea- and land-mail services at the end of my year in Australia. I think it took about three months to reach me but it was like an early Christmas, especially the small selection of vinyl that I'd bought over there. The Soft Cell and Cabaret Voltaire tracks definitely came from that shipment. The Julian Cope track was the third of a trilogy of Hugo Nicolson remixes, this one in a lovely picture disc in yellow packaging. A bastard to store without damaging, especially with the number of short-term rents and constant moves I had in the 1990s, it has to be said. Very few of these songs could be found on the college jukebox or were being played out in the clubs that I was going to at the time. I was probably going to the wrong clubs...

 

1) Philly (Jamorphous Mix): Fluke (1990)

2) Time Beats (Album Version): Cabaret Voltaire ft. Lorita Grahame (1990)

3) Acid Love (Original Mix By Adam & Eve): The Beloved (1988) 

4) Memorabilia (12" Version By Daniel Miller): Soft Cell (1981)

5) Hypnotonic (Promo 12" Version): Hypnotone ft. Carlos (2 Supreme) (1991)

6) Heed: Of Penetration And The City Dweller (Head Remix By Hugo Nicolson): Julian Cope (1991)

7) Repetition (Dub): Tackhead (1990)

8) W.F.L. (The Vince Clarke Mix): Happy Mondays (1989)

 

Side Two (45:49)