Archive for the ‘A-ha’ Category

Song Sequels, A-Ha is Awesome and a Eurythmics Remix

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012

Musics below.

Peter Schilling
Major Tom (Coming Home) (Special Extended Version)
Major Tom (Coming Home) (Instrumental Version)
In the 70s and 80s Italian exploitation filmmakers had a habit of making unofficial sequels to established, popular films. Dawn Of The Dead (known as Zombi in Europe) begat Zombi 2. The Australian film Patrick, inspired a completely unrelated piece of crap called Patrick Still Lives. The Italians also made rip-off wanna-be sequels to Evil Dead II (La Casa 3), The Exorcist (The Naked Exorcism) and about 8 billion movies that claimed to be somehow connected to The Last House On The Left.

I bring this up because I believe that “Major Tom (Coming Home)” may be one of the only unofficial song sequels, it being a continuation of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” chronicling the further adventures of everyone’s spaced out spaceman Major Tom. Of course, it’s not really a sequel, just like those infamous Italian hack jobs, “Major Tom (Coming Home)” has almost nothing in common with its source of inspiration. Although that didn’t stop the song from becoming a huge hit, Schilling’s only international success.

Which leads me to question, why didn’t Schilling continue his hackery and release “sequels” to other Bowie tunes? This one worked out well for him. Why not “The Man Who Bought The World,” “Five More Years,” or even more appropriate, “Life On [Insert Planet Here].” Maybe even he had some shame.

Regardless of its origins, it’s hard to deny the charm of “Major Tom (Coming Home).” That chorus sure is catchy. Here it is in both its extended 12″ version (which combines the English language and German versions) as well as the instrumental B-side.

A-Ha
The Sun Always Shines On TV (Extended Version)
The Sun Always Shines On TV (Instrumental)
Driftwood
I originally posted the extended take of “The Sun Always Shines on TV” and “Driftwood” back in 2009, but I felt like re-sharing them now that I re-recorded them on decent equipment. So if you have those old rips, set them on fire and throw them away! Or just send them to recycle bin, whatever. After you do that, download them again, because these new rips sound so much better.

And if you didn’t download them back in 2009, download them now anyway! “The Sun Always Shines on TV” is A-ha’s best song. I am proclaiming that as a fact even though the only A-Ha record I own is a greatest hits and I’m fairly certain I never listened to it all the way through.

Eurythmics
Revival (Extended Dance Mix)
Once again, I spent so much time writing about other songs for a post that by the time I get to the last one I am too tired to think of anything interesting to say. But hey, it’s a good song. Don’t let my blogging limitations prevent you from enjoying it.

Swine Poo. Oh, and some TMBG and stuff.

Friday, November 6th, 2009

It’s been nearly four weeks since I first got sick with the flu, and I’m still feeling the after effects of it. I’m going to go ahead and call it – I had the swine flu. Fucking pigs. Meh.

Random music time!

A-Ha
I’ve Been Losing You (Extended Mix)
A-Ha is breaking up. I know this is shocking news to everyone in America who assumed they vanished into a black and white comic sometime around 1986. However, they’ve been quite big in Europe since 1984, and I’m assuming their impending break-up is pretty big news in Norway, where I assume they are blonde synth-pop gods. I’m not a huge fan of A-ha, but I do have their greatest hits compilation and I do have to say that I do think that over their course of their 20-plus year career they no doubt showed signs of fucking genius. Anyone who says they don’t like “Take On Me” is a damned liar, and “The Sun Always Shines On T.V.” just might be one of the most beautiful songs of the 80s. “I’ve Been Losing You” isn’t as good as that classic, but it does have a pretty awesome drum intro.

They Might Be Giants
S-E-X-X-Y (Tee’s Freeze Mix)
S-E-X-X-Y (Tee’s In House Dub)
S-E-X-X-Y (The Warren Rigg Microwave Mix)

I’ve seen nerd gods TMBG so many times I’ve actually lost count, I think it’s six or seven. Usually I’m better at keeping track of such things, but nearly every time I’ve seen them it’s been at Mr. Smalls in Pittsburgh, so all thsoe shows kind of morph together into one AMAZING concert. The first time I saw TMBG was in 1996, when they were touring in support for Factory Showroom, the album that features the original version of “S-E-X-X-Y.” I was just getting into them at the time and really wanted to see them. I wanted to see them so bad I went with my mom to see Hootie And The Blowfish because TMBG was opening for them. That’s some fucking dedication right there. I’m hardcore like that. These remixes are from a 12” single. Also, apparently the person who owned this 12” before me treated it like sandpaper, so there are a few pops and clicks. Sorry about that.

P.M. Dawn
I’d Die Without You (Extended Jeep Mix)
I’d Die Without You (Remix Dub)
I’d Die Without You (Extended Remix Radio Edit)
Hippie Hip Hop! I’m tired now and out of things to say. This song is so mellow it might kill you, be careful.

A-ha! It’s The Cure! Also Bunnymen and rap.

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

This post is a little light on content but I believe the quality makes up for the quantity. It also gives me a chance to explain something.

I started this blog to highlight rare and hard-to-find recordings, primarily music you can’t find on CD. When I started this blog a few years ago the pool from which to get tracks from was huge, but it’s getting harder and harder to fulfill my original mission statement. Everything seems to be on CD (or iTunes/Amazon MP3 store) now! It’s annoying! That is one of the reason why updates have slowed down recently (that and a booze-filled bender). Last week I bought 12” singles by Depeche Mode, Simple Minds, Book Of Love and New Order – all of the tracks are on iTunes and CD now. This is all great for the artists, who deserve to have these tracks available, but it makes my job a little harder.

Now, as people have pointed out in the comment section, sometimes I put up stuff that is in-print/easily available. That’s usually do to general ignorance on my part, or because it’s not in print in the states, which is what really matters to me (and judging by my statcounter most of my visitors). Also sometimes I just let my rules be dammed because I feel like it, but that usually just applies to Depeche Mode. I’m careful though, I don’t need another cease and desist from Steve Winwood.

My point is that you’re probably going to start to see some lesser-known acts on The Lost Turntable. However, if I start to get into a good groove and find some interesting shit you’ll also get more music. So it evens out.

And its all free for you anyways, so what do you care?

a-ha
The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (Extended Mix)
Driftwood

I was ecstatic that these tracks weren’t on iTunes or any American-released compilation. I won’t profess to being a huge a-ha fan (I only own a greatest hits) but “The Sun Always Shines On TV” is probably my favorite track of theirs that I have heard, yes even more than “Take On Me.” It’s a beautiful track and this extra-long version is even better. “Driftwood” is a good b-side as well, the lead singer is rocking a Bowie vibe a bit and it works for him.

Echo & The Bunnymen
Bring On The Dancing Horses (Extended Mix)
Yay extended Bunnymen singing about horses! Wow, when I say it like that I sound like a seven-year-old girl. Anyways, this is from a 12” single.

The Cure
Why Can’t I Be You? (12” Version)
My favorite song by The Cure? Maybe, definitely my favorite Cure song that doesn’t bring up painful memories of failed relationships. Seriously, how many people can’t listen to “Lovesong” anymore? I’m not the only one I know it. This is from a 12” single, which makes sense because it’s the 12” version.

J.J. Fad
Supersonic (Remix)
And now for something completely different. The first person who says that this track sounds like a Fergie song will get punched in the face. I will find you. This is from a 12” single.