Category: Hipsway

Various – The Record Mirror EP (UK 7″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

A. Front

The UK music magazine Record Mirror was well-respected for its coverage of dance music. In the 1980s and up to its closure in 1991 it issued numerous 7″ EPs with rare and exclusive tracks, many by electronic artists. This solid 4 track EP was released on March 22, 1986.

Special thanks to the Free EP site and Wikipedia for the information.

SIDE A:
New Order – Sub-Culture (Exclusive Remix) 7:09
Producer, Written-By – New Order
Remix – John Robie
Remix [Uncredited] – Joseph Watt

A collector’s item for fans of one of the most collectable bands of their time. This is genuinely an exclusive remix which has never been officially released since. Sub-Culture began its life on New Order’s classic 1985 album ‘Low Life’. In 1986, the track was remixed by John Robie and released as a single. However, the mix was badly received and the single became a rare critical and commercial failure for the band, only hitting #63 in the UK chart. Factory graphic designer Peter Saville objected to the release of the remix of Sub-Culture to such an extent he refused to design a sleeve explaining why the single was only distributed in a plain black sleeve. As tends to be the norm with New Order releases, there has always been confusion over the source of this remix. The label credits Robie as being on remix duty again but it actually seems to be an edit of the first of several Razormaid remixes of the track. Razormaid being one of the largest DJ subscription remix services in the world, this became one of the very rare instances when such a remix was released outside the confines of their stringent subscription service. Despite being regarded as superior to the official Robie mixes, this EP is still the only legit place to find this.

Raymonde – Jennifer Wants (Exclusive Track) 2:06
Producer – Raymonde, Sexton
Written-By – Maker*, Huish*

Despite a huge Smiths connection – Raymonde frequently supported them and lead singer James Maker used to be their back up singer and dancer – the band only released on overlooked album in 1987, Babelogue. Although Raymonde never lived up to Record Mirror’s billing of them as one of the year’s most exciting newcomers, Maker made some money from his old mate nearly two decades on in 2004 when Morrissey not only covered Raymonde track No One Can Hold A Candle To You as a B side and live, but included the original version on his own compilation, the NME FreeEP ‘Songs To Save Your Life’ in 2004. “Jennifer Wants”, this track is absolutely exclusive to this EP so a must for all Morrissey fans.

SIDE B:
Hipsway – Bad Thing Longing (Preview From Their Forthcoming Album) 4:06
Producer – Hipsway, Paul Stavely O’Duffy*
Written-By – Skinner*, Travers*, McElhone*, Jones*

In between featuring in two hugely successful bands – Altered Images and Texas – guitarist Johnny Mcelhone formed Hipsway in 1984. The band’s eponymous debut album just missed out on a Top 40 place but single The Honeythief hit #17 in 1986. This track, at the time of this EP’s release an exclusive preview, was featured on their debut. Despite this early promise, the band folded in 1989.

Adventures, The – Walk Away Renee (Specially Recorded For Record Mirror) 3:16
Producer – Adventures, The
Written-By – Calilli*, Brown*, Sansoni*

The Adventures were an Irish folk rock band who briefly threatened to become one of the UK’s biggest bands. Backed by eventual Spice Girls guru Simon Fuller, he ensured The Adventures achieved plenty of airplay and music press attention. Despite a Top 20 hit in 1988 with Broken Land, it never really happened and The Adventures became one of the country’s best kept secrets instead. This faithful cover of The Left Banke’s Walk Away Renee, made famous by The Four Tops, was specially recorded for Record Mirror and remains exclusive to this release. Arguably, as the band had already released their album Theodore & Friends and its singles to little success, this was most likely an attempt by Fuller to keep them in the public eye in the absence of any new material.

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Record Mirror ?– rm 2
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 33 ? RPM, EP, Compilation
Country: UK
Released: 22 Mar 1986
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Leftfield, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Compiled By – Gill Smith
Cover – Graham Black (2)

NOTES:
Free with rm (Record Mirror, UK music magazine).
Not for resale.
Track A1 is an edit Of The Sarm West Remix (Razormaid).

Find the 7″ On DISCOGS

B. Back

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard:
ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removeal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Hipsway – Ask The Lord (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

A. Front

“Ask The Lord” is a single released by Scottish synth-pop band Hipsway. The single was originally released as the second single from the bands self titled debut album in 1985, peaking at #72 in the UK. After the sucess of the next single “The Honeythief” which reached the top twenty in the US and #7 in the UK. The band re-recorded “Ask The Lord” and re-released it as the follow up to “The Honeythief” in 1986. This re-recording did better in the UK reaching the #50 position while in the US it failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100 but did chart at #44 on the dance chart.

SIDE A:
Ask The Lord (Dance Mix) 7:05

SIDE B:
Ask The Lord (Dub Mix) 4:12
Ask The Lord (Album Version) 4:07

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1986 Ask The Lord U.S. Billboard Hot dance/Club Play #44

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Columbia ‎– 44-06801
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Mastered By – Herb Powers Jr.
Photography – Sheila Rock
Producer – Gary Langan
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – HipswayPaul Staveley O’Duffy
Remix [Assistant] – Billy Miranda (tracks: A. B1)
Remix, Other [Overdubs] – Francois Kevorkian*, Ron St. Germain
Written-By – G. Skinner*, H. Travers*, J. McElhone*

NOTES:
Album version can be heard on “HIPSWAY”

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

B. Back

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Hipsway – The Honeythief (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

Hipsway were a Scottish synth-pop band formed in Glasgow in 1984 by ex-Altered Images guitarist Johnny McElhone on bass, and featuring Grahame Skinner (vocals), Pim Jones (guitar) and Harry Travers (drums). Skinner and Travers had been members of the band Kites with Paul McGrath and Ian McGreevy before Hipsway formed. Their music was characterized by Skinner’s deep vocals and Jones’ tight guitar playing. They were quickly signed up by Mercury Records and by 1985 had released their first, eponymously-titled album. The album was a moderate success in the UK Albums Chart; while the single, “The Honeythief”, made #17 in the UK Singles Chart, and also reached the Top 20 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

SIDE A:
The Honeythief (Galus Mix) 4:37

SIDE B:
The Honeythief (7” Version) 3:10
The Honeythief (Extended Version) 4:09

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

CHARTS:

Year Single Chart Position
1987 The Honeythief U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #19
1987 The Honeythief U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play #9

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Columbia – 44 05988
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Producer – Gary Langan
Producer [Additional Production], Remix – Hipsway, Paul Staveley O’Duffy
Written-By – A. McLeod*, G. Skinner*, H Travers*, J. McElhone*

NOTES:
Tracks are listed in the wrong order on the rear sleeve.
Original version on the LP “HIPSWAY”

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi