The main idea when I started this thing up back in September 2006 was to bring folks' attention to long-forgotten/long-lost stuff, often only available in vinyl, that for years sat pining for attention in a cupboard in Villain Towers awaiting the invention of affordable USB Turntables.Its been a few months since Paul Haig last featured on these pages, so I thought it would be a good idea to delve into the cupboard and pull out one of his 12" singles from October 1984 that was released on the Belgian label Les Disques Du Crepuscule.
Big Blue World should have been released on Island Records, but the strained relationship between singer and label which I've mentioned in past postings, saw it pulled at very short notice, but thankfully, the Belgian connection ensured it was available on import if you were so inclined to track it down.
There's no denying that it is a sound of its time....but equally there's no denying that as a track aimed at the then hugely popular electro/dance market it is an absolute belter, thanks in part to Paul's effortless croon and thanks in part to the production work of Alan Rankine. When you look back and consider that in that era there were countless tunes,with less than 1% of the magnificence of this song, that went Top 10 and made temporary stars of nonentities. As Calimero might say....it's an injustice.
The flip side of the 12" has a couple of real treats with a great, trashy rockabilly cover version of Ghost Rider, featuring David McClymont and Malcom Ross (both of whom were part of the chart-era Orange Juice), while Endless Song, unsurprisingly given who was involved in its making, is a cross between Josef K and Associates. So if that's the sort of stuff you like, why not give it a listen.....
mp3 : Paul Haig - Big Blue World (12" version)
mp3 : Paul Haig - Ghost Rider
mp3 : Paul Haig - Endless Song
Paul Haig is of course still making great music, much of which can be bought direct from him at this site. Oh and I understand that some new material is likely to be on the way before 2009 is out.....watch this space.
2 comments:
I JUST LOVE THIS SONG! I have a single mix and this 12" as well in my collection. At the time I was addicted to all thing Les Disques Du Crepuscule and had a record store in NYC that fed my addiction nicely. As well the pedigree here is immense! There is a real edginess to Big Blue World that is miles deeper than anything by Visage or to some extent New Order at this point. Oh and you can make an absolute lovely fool of yourself dancing to it too!
JC - btw this may interest you if you haven't seen it already...Ed
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