OK. You're probably a bit fed up with me going on all about why I want everyone to sign up for Paul Haig Day II. So I've roped in a guest contributor to add his voice:-Sometimes you end up buying the Wrong Record.
"Bloody hell, look at this", cried my pal, holding up a garish cartoon sleeve.
In 1984, you couldn't move amongst the record racks for tasteful Neville Brody rip-offs & self-conscious modern design, & here was Paul Haig looking like he was playing at being Tin Tin or some such, with a light & knowing smirk on his face.
Everyone laughed,but I was rather taken by it - thought the faceless gents on the backdrop looked like Dr Phibes' Clockwork Musicians. Plus it had a big long version of Blue For You on it. And it was mid-price. So sod it, I'm having it.
Getting it home & giving it a spin, I felt a bit deflated. Not that there was anything particularly wrong with it, just that Rhythm Of Life had been on my LPs-To-Get list for a year at least now, & - there was no getting around it - I'd bought the Wrong Record.
And that version of Blue For You was just longer, not better. Ach well, Side Two...
Somehow I'd missed hearing Justice back in 1983, despite owning the other ROL-era 7''s & having caught Haig on various music progs doing his bit. I'd read glowing reviews, but, well, this'll be another slightly over-/under-cooked version I suppose, dance floor-friendly to be sure but not too well suited to my bedroom of an early Saturday evening while I did my hair.
Oh... hang on...
mp3 : Paul Haig - Justice (Bruce Forest NY Remix)
Since then of course, I've heard the original versions of Justice (7'', 12'' & LP guises, even - via the wonders of the web - a live take from 1982), & many times, but this one remains my favourite.
Amongst the habitually-distended eighties perorations of the mini-album, it was immediately obvious that this wasn't a remix, but instead a thoughtful rearrangement, & to this day it nails the oblique poise of the song for me. In Haig's own versions, you remain unsure & at arms' length, the "peaceful night" far enough away to be either nostalgia or possibility; this version takes the getaway motif & runs with it, streamlining the action & focusing the obscure, looming quandary, gliding into a breakdown & coda that are all neon & taillights & make it plain that this reading is about leaving where the others are about arriving. It has the same equivocal demeanour as the others, a mixture of reverie & determination, but somehow in those, Haig simply fades out; in this one, he actually does get away. Cue end titles.
The 2004 reissue of Rhythm Of Life thoughtfully appends the New York Remix tracks to the end of the 1983 running order, & although I suppose it's a minor heresy to jigger about with the intended tracklisting (not to mention preferring a reinterpretation over the artist's own design), when I listen to ROL these days, I often programme this version in place of the original.
And I swap it & Work Together so's Justice makes for the curtain-closer. As a favourite singer of mine once rebuked a control-freak correspondent on their website, "Who says you get a vote? Get your own stupid band" - but still, I recommend giving it a try sometime, just for a change. It makes for a perfect envoi.
Sometimes the Wrong Record is also the Right One. Such are the pitfalls & chance delights.
PS
Cut to 2004, & I'm playing this version of Justice in a pub deep in the heart of Glasgow, delighted to find a couple of pals approaching me to do a bit of trainspotting. Paul Haig, I tell them, & show them the sleeve. Everyone laughed. "Space Captain Birds Eye", I believe was the phrase.
Contributed by Davis McArdle, long-time reader and occasional participant via the comments section
Note from JC:
Big thanks to Davis for doing his bit for Paul Haig Day II, even though he doesn't have a blog of his own. Much appreciated.
Two weeks to go now until the actual day, and I'm a wee bit disappointed that numbers haven't yet surpassed last year's effort, although this e-mail cheered me up no end:-
I missed Paul Haig Day 1. So glad you're doing this again. I run a radio station in the US. We're going to join you (for at least part of the day, as I don't have much Paul Haig...I do have his latest release, and selected old stuff...need more!) on 4/6.
We're at http://www.exit977.org/ so you can see what we're about.
Cool on ya!
Chris Wienkchris
So once again, I'm asking please if you haven't signed up, to do so ASAP by either leaving a comment behind on this post or by sending an email to thevinylvillain@hotmail.co.uk . It would also be great if you could spread the word as wide as you can.
And to round things off this week, here's the 12" inch version of the song Davis gives big licks to up above, together with b-sides:-
mp3 : Paul Haig - Justice
mp3 : Paul Haig - On This Night Of Decision
mp3 : Paul Haig - Justice 82
Oh and here's one for trivia fans. The middle track was produced by John Porter who would later work on the debut LP of The Smiths.
Thanks again.
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