Ball of Confusion - Love and Rockets

From the Ashes of Bauhaus came Love and Rockets and this is their first release under this new moniker. This is the 12 inch single version of "Ball of Confusion", released in 1985 under the Beggar Banquet record label. Much like my other EP's from the time, I wore out my original years ago and I acquired this copy just recently. Wikipedia refers to it a minor hit...perhaps as a bean counter from a pure sales perspective one might agree. For those who were paying attention to the music scene at the time and remember it's popularity, they couldn't be further from the truth. This quickly became a classic cover, and I don't know a single 80's music collector that doesn't have it, or doesn't want it. A hard edged punk/goth combination with regards to style, they turned this Motown tune into a phenomenally popular track, heard in ever new wave cave, and underground club, the world over. I absolutley love this tune, as far as cover songs go, this is one of the best ever done.

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Ball Of Confusion (12' Remix)
Beggars Banquet / Virtigo
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This Side......Ball Of Confusion (The Extended U.K. Vesion) Remixed
That Side.....Ball Of Confusion (The U.S. Remixed Version)
Both Side mixed by N.Whitfield / B. Strong
Produced by John A River & Love and Rockets

Express - Love and Rockets

Express is the second album by Love and Rockets, released in 1986 on Beggar's Banquet label and it is the first recording I personally picked up by this phenomenal British band. I believe it is their strongest work in a library that includes seven studio albums over thirteen years, although I must admit I'm still unfamiliar with their final two releases ( Sweet F.A, and Lift ). The album is ingenious and could best be describes as having a post punk, psychedelic sound with a bit of gothic style thrown in for good measure, a remnant from the old Bahause days. I still listen to it on a regular basis, it is a mainstay in my collection there aint nothing better than blasting this album loud. The big single I guess would haved to be "Yin and Yang" but every track is strong, especially "An American Dream" which is my personal favorite. I don't really think this band gave a shit about commercial success, if they had I suspect this album would have been much bigger than it was... it is an almost perfect record. Like Bauhause before them Love and Rockets cared more about the music and the fans, sales seemed be a second priority... It appeared to me at the time ( once again this is only my opinion ) that everyone I knew had this album (in my social circle anyway) but there was very little fanfare during the release nor any real advertising during the initial run, word of mouth seemed to be the order of the day, the band had their cor set of fans that were quite loyal of which I was one of them and that seemed to be sufficient...if you disagree fell free to say so, sometimes I can be quite full of sh*t.....

Track list is as follows...

1. "It Could Be Sunshine"
2. "Kundalini Express"
3. "All in My Mind"
4. "Life in Laralay"
5. "Yin and Yang (The Flowerpot Man)"
6. "Love Me"
7. "All in My Mind (acoustic)"
8. "An American Dream"

The original CD release also included "Ball Of Confusion"