Monday 18 May 2015

Various Artists - Holidays In The Sun [12", 2LP]

Bumped into this HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN compilation on my way out of the Utrecht record fair a few weeks ago. A double LP for a ridiculously cheap price (just over 1 euro per side) and in mint condition, or at least the records are. Clearly never played. I've never seen this compilation before but that is probably because it was only released in Greece, and those albums rarely show up in the western parts of Europe. It's from 1994, which means there are probably not many copies floating around, since vinyl was already clearly on its way back at that time. But for this price and with the tracklisting on the back i knew i couldn't go wrong at all, even though i already have a lot of these songs on other vinyl releases. It covers alternative rock, (post-)punk, new wave and synthpop - and all of them hits! Just check below and you'll see what i mean.
By the way, Gary Numan's "Cars" is the '93 Sprint Mix version. It's not credited like that on the cover though.

Label: Mercury / Polygram Greece
Cat.nr.: 516 849-1
Year of release: 1994

SIDE A:
01. SEX PISTOLS - Pretty Vacant
02. BAUHAUS - She's In Parties
03. XTC - Making Plans For Nigel
04. JOE JACKSON - I'm The Man
05. GRAHAM PARKER & THE RUMOURS - Hey Lord Don't Ask Me Questions

SIDE B:
01. SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES - Christine
02. MAGAZINE - Shot By Both Sides
03. THE JAM - Going Underground
04. P.I.L. - This Is Not A Love Song
05. GARY NUMAN - Cars

SIDE C:
01. VIOLENT FEMMES - Blister In The Sun
02. IGGY POP - Real Wild Child (Wild One)
03. MADNESS - Baggy Trousers
04. NEW ORDER - True Faith
05. HEAVEN 17 - (We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang
06. LES NEGRESSES VERTES - Sous Le Soleil De Bodega

SIDE D:
01. NICK CAVE - Deanna
02. THE HOUSEMARTINS - Me And The Farmer
03. THE LA'S - There She Goes
04. THE HOUSE OF LOVE - Shine On
05. INSPIRAL CARPETS - This Is How It Feels
06. THE MISSION - Butterfly On A Wheel

Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine - 1992 The Love Album [12", LP]

I used to have this album by CARTER THE UNSTOPPABLE SEX MACHINE as a cassette tape, which i bought in Turkey (!) on summer holiday in the year it came out. Played it until it got all stuck in my cassette deck at some point a few years later, and strangely enough i'd almost forgotten about how genius it is until i discovered it recently at the Utrecht record fair. So for the past few weeks, it's been spinning a lot on my record player. 1992 THE LOVE ALBUM is a trip down memory lane for me and i was completely surprised that i could sing along most of the cynical and witty lyrics of these bombastic electronic punky songs after 20+ years. Even though a couple of my mates are big fans I must shamefully admit i never bothered to check out Carter's other albums. So besides a few singles like "Sheriff Fatman" and "Bloodsport For All" i don't know much other music of this band. I think that needs to change soon; better late than never.

Label: Chrysalis
Cat.nr.: CHR 1946
Year of release: 1992

SIDE A:
01. 1993
02. Is Wrestling Fixed?
03. The Only Living Boy In New Cross
04. Suppose You Gave A Funeral And Nobody Came
05. England

SIDE B:
01. Do Re Me, So Far So Good
02. Look Mum, No Hands!
03. While You Were Out
04. Skywest And Crooked
05. The Impossible Dream