ANYONE OUT THERE UP FOR PAUL HAIG DAY II ????

Last year, a fair few bloggers from all around the world agreed to be part of Paul Haig Day on 6th April 2009. This was in response to a plea that I put out over the internet after Paul and his manager had given great support to TVV and other bloggers in the face of determined efforts by folk posting dmca notices forcing not just mp3s but entire postings to be taken down.

Paul Haig Day was organised with just over a week's notice, and just over 30 bloggers responded with some words and a Paul Haig related track of their own. I really would like to better that number this year, and that's why I'm launching it with plenty of notice this time round.

Paul Haig Day II will take place on the corresponding date as last time - i.e. Tuesday 6th April 2010. I've already received the approval to proceed from Paul's manager, and I hope that over the coming weeks I can sort something special out to mark the actual day.

In the meantime, for those of you who don't know much or indeed anything about Paul, then let me rip-off something from his official website and give you a resume:-

Paul Haig is a Scottish indie composer, musician and singer. He was originally a member of a 1980s post-punk band called Josef K who were signed to the Postcard record label. Other bands with Postcard at the same time were Orange Juice, Aztec Camera and the Go-Betweens.

Josef K recorded five singles and an album 'The Only Fun in Town' with Paul on lead vocals, before splitting after touring in July and August 1981; their final Scottish date was in Glasgow.

He released two interim singles on Edinburgh independent Rational both singles appeared under the generic name Rhythm Of Life Organisation (ROL), an imprimatur Paul has retained ever since for everything from albums, labels and backing bands. Such anonymity also suited his avowed loathing of publicity - he has never once released a record with his own face on the front cover.

Paul then teamed up with a Belgian independent record label Les Disques du Crepuscule, and in January 1982 made solo live debuts, in Edinburgh and London. The following month RoL took part in Crepuscule's first European tour, gaining plaudits for their versatile, snappy brand of funk minimalism. Building on this, Paul relocated to Brussels in March 1982 embarked on an intensive recording schedule that yielded two self-produced singles, Running Away (a cover of the Sly Stone classic) and Justice.

In July, almost a year after Josef K had split, yet with just one proper solo record to his name in Running Away, Paul Haig was labelled the face and sound of 1982 by Paul Morley in a lead feature for the NME. According to Morley, Haig was the enigmatic fourth man in a New Pop quartet which also included Billy Mackenzie, Jim Kerr and Martin Fry.

The media hype around Paul paved the way for a licensing deal with Island Records, and a substantial injection of cash, adeal which saw him record his first solo album 'Rhythm Of Life' in New York at the end of 1982. The result was a whole new direction - a brand of polished dance/electro - that seemed a million miles away from the abrasive edge of Josef K.

In 1984 Paul joined forces with several celebrated peers including Bernard Sumner and Donald Johnson (of New Order and A Certain Ratio respectively), and Cabaret Voltaire. November saw the completion of a new album, this time recorded in London with Alan Rankine (ex Associates) co-producing. Unfortunately the failure of lead single The Only Truth resulted in Island severing the Crepuscule connection, and so the untitled second album was shelved.

Rather than release the cancelled set on Crepuscule, it was decided to combine half the album with new songs recorded throughout 1985 and the fightback was launched with a powerful single, Heaven Help You Now, and the excellent album The Warp Of Pure Fun.

Haig briefly returned to Crepuscule in September 1987 to record several tracks, though the only new record to emerge was the fine Torchomatic single, complete with spy theme and a home-recorded instrumental cycle on the flipside. The European Sun compilation album followed, including most of the shelved Island album not included on Warp plus several rare b-sides, and the unreleased Cabaret Voltaire collaboration.

Early in 1988 Haig financed the recording of a new album himself, once more produced with Alan Rankine and cut in just 18 days. Virgin offshoot Circa Records purchased the tapes in August, but chose not to release the album, titled Chain, until May 1989It included the brilliant lead single,"Something Good".

Paul released an instrumental set of imaginary film themes through LTM, who had previously issued the Josef K back catalogue on CD. Cinematique appeared in September 1991 to glowing reviews. In 1993 Crepuscule released Coincidence Vs Fate.

Since 1993 Haig has released two further volumes of Cinematique on his own RoL imprint, as well as several archive releases by the late, and much lamented, Billy Mackenzie. Memory Palace (1999) compiled a number of tracks recorded as joint demos by the pair, as well as the tribute Listen to Me.

In 2003 LTM CD reissued The Warp Of Pure Fun and Coincidence Vs Fate, though a career-spanning Best Of on Crepuscule failed to materialise. LTM also released Then Again in 2004, a compilation of rare and previously unheard material.

There has been a resurgence of activity over the last couple of years from RoL. In 2007, Haig's first single for 14 years, Reason (a BBC Radio 2 single of the week, no less), was released, available via download and 7" vinyl. Followed soon after by Electronik Audience, an album that showcased many of Paul's influences.

2007 also saw the first live appearance from Paul in many years when he appeared at the Billy Mackenzie tribute concert in London. Yet another new album, Go Out Tonight, a more organic album than Electronik Audience, was released in April 2008. Go Out Tonight saw Paul return to his roots and tracks such as Trouble Maker are very reminiscent of early solo recordings. He then embarked on his first tour since 1989 when he promoted both old and new tracks in Scotland and selected UK dates in April 2008.

In November 2009, Paul Haig released the LP Relive........

Clocking in at a little over 33 minutes across 10 tracks, it is one of the best and most consistent record he has made in his entire career. A mixture of amazing new tunes that wouldn't sound out of place on works by the likes of Franz Ferdinand, there are some greatre-workings of a couple of songs from days of old and a cover thrown in for good measure as well. If it hadnt been for the astonishing React Or Die by Butcher Boy, then Relive would have topped my own poll of best records of 2009.

So yes, I am a big fan of Paul Haig and his work, but my admiration for the man grew by far more than I'm capable of expressing thanks to his support for bloggers at a time when many of us did feel under a sustained attack. A bit like it is in 2010 I suppose when you recall this....

All I'm asking is that you use the space on your blog on Tuesday 6th April to post a song by Paul Haig, and if you're so inclined, add a few words of you own. Please let me know, either via the comments section, or via email, whether you're up for it. I'll provide a running total a week today. And add your name to the honour roll to the right hand side of this blog.

Thank You.

mp3 : Paul Haig - Relive

Paul Haig product can be purchased from his own website, Rhythm Of Life Inc by following the link from here.

And here's a specially made bit of film, for the Channel 4 programme 'The Tube' as part of a Scottish special which also featured Bourgie Bourgie, Billy Mackenzie and Hey! Elastica among others (I've got the various clips on a VHS tape under the stairs somewhere!).



Anyone who leaves a comment or sends an email signing up for this wee adventure will get a special mention over in the newly created section on the right hand side.