Needle Time

  Paul Haig - Big Blue World [TWI 231 BEL 1984 24-Bit FLAC] Denied the hits he deserved by a fickle pop public, Paul Haig has released some of the greatest eighties synthpop singles. With the ear for a great tune, the former Josef K frontman enlisted the help of a former Associate and a Thompson Twin for a debut album contrived by a deal between Island Records and Les Disques Du Crépuscule. The major label later abandoned the deal, leaving Haig to his own devices in Belgium until Virgin Records came calling later in the decade. I think I have ripped nearly all of Haig's solo efforts over the years however I seem to have overlooked the full length version of  Big Blue World (maybe  I did, then erased it from my memory banks). Anyway here is another of Haig's catchy synthpop singles backed with a rocking Suicide cover ...and the excellent Endless Song .  A1 Big Blue World B1 Ghost Rider B2 Endless Song

  Paul Haig - The Warp Of Pure Fun [TWI 669 BEL 1985 24-Bit FLAC] What better to follow a Paul Haig album, than another Paul Haig album. Despite Island Records' best attempts, even they could not get a hit from The Only Truth , despite the well promoted collaboration with Dojo & BeMusic - I may have covered my theory behind it's failure in another Paul Haig post. Island then gave up with Haig so it was up to Les Disques Du Crépuscule and their UK subsidiary, Operation Afterglow to release the subsequent album. Here is my rip of the Belgian pressing. This album is laden with should-have-been-a-hits, Big Blue World did very little, so also Haig's best & catchiest work, Heaven Help You Know . The original single version of The Only Truth is squeezed in, then the reflective Love Eternal followed in 1986. I like this album a lot, the opening over dramatic Silent Motion and One Lifetime Away reveal Haig in a darker mood, Sense Of Fun could have been a New Order tra...

  Paul Haig - Rhythm Of Life [25SI-212 JPN 1984 24-Bit FLAC] When Josef K split, and after a brief period of bedroom recordings, Paul Haig signed with Les Disques Du Crépuscule for Europe, licensed to Island Records in the UK, who in turn subbed him to Polystar in Japan. This is the superior Polystar pressing of Haig's debut album - made in Japan, complete with tucked in obi sheet insert. Recorded with keyboard whizz, Bernie Worrell and the slightly less whizzy Tom Bailey (then a Thompson Twin), this excellent synthpop album spawned a number of singles, none of which broke the Scotsman commercially, despite the love & acclaim of the music press and being nominated haircut of the year during 1983. This pressing knocks the socks off my Island Records version. A1 Heaven Sent A2 Never Give Up (Party, Party) A3 Adoration A4 Stolen Love A5 Don't Rush In B1 Blue For You B2 In The World B3 Justice B4 Work Together

Dub Organiser - I've Got A Weapon [DEC 12 UK 1988 24-Bit FLAC] Paul Haig, Keith LeBlanc and John Robie recorded together as Dub Organiser for this one-off twelve inch single on Manchester's Play Hard Records. It does sound like a lost Tackhead masterpiece and given that Tackhead had gone a bit too rock by 1988, it should please most palates around here. Play loud, play hard! A1 I've Got A Weapon B1 It's Insane

Paul Haig - The Only Truth (Promo Version) [12 IS 198 UK 1984 24-Bit FLAC] I've posted this before on the old ESWA blog with gratitude to blog follower penguinflight , whose boxes of delights contained this. I've taken a little time to clean up the files, remove a few clicks and ensure a better balancing of the channels. Whilst it may not be Haig's best work, this is the best version of The Only Truth , a track which I've always felt sounds like three musicians thrown into a studio and given a little time to come up with something. For those not in the loop, Bernard Sumner from New Order and Donald Johnson from A Certain Ration were the collaborators. A1 The Only Truth B1 The Only Truth

Paul Haig - European Sun [TWI 829 BEL 1987 24-Bit FLAC] European Sun is a nice compilation of Les Disques Du Crépuscule oddities and rarities recorded by Paul Haig, released over thirty years ago. It features unreleased 7" versions of Haig standards and a few snippets for his unreleased second album for the label including a personal favourite Swinging For You which eventually was re-recorded for the Chain album. There are also a number of b-sides plus the highlight for many will be the unreleased Factory Benelux 12" The Executioner recorded with Cabaret Voltaire at Western Works in 1984. Haig's James Bond tribute Torchomatic and his  rockabilly cover of Suicide's Ghost Rider are thrown in as well. Enjoy. A1 Running Away A2 Chance A3 Justice A4 Swinging For You A5 Shining Hour A6 Fear And Dancing A7 Psycho San Jose B1 Ghost Rider B2 Torchomatic B3 Endless Song B4 Closer Now B5 The Executioner