Mystery Record

[Head Gardener]

Well this is a bit of a turn up for the books, I have found that just about every compilation record that carries a well known name - such as Cocteau Twins, has been well documented and it's pretty much impossible to discover something unknown that no collector, DJ, record dealer seems to not know something about, this was until last weekend. I did a clear out of my mum's garage on Saturday to make up some boxes for a fair in Reading the following day. I came across an album I have no memory of ever having or even it's origins so I did a bit of research to find out more. I found absolutely nothing. I've had a couple of 7"s for years that are still a mystery but this album (pictured below) was something quite different. The label, the bands compiled on it, Cocteau Twins alongside punk band Conflict was very odd to see, but I couldn't find anything on Discogs etc so took it along to the fair and asked as many sellers as I could. I even bumped into Mark Lamarr who also drew a blank, none of the traders at the fair, some who are specialists in mid 80's Indie, Mute/Factory etc said they had never seen or heard of this album before. I rebuffed several offers too as it is probably worth something to the right collector and I would rather know more about it before passing it on. The labels show 4 tracks on each side, the labels and rear of sleeve may state this however... there are 6 tracks on each side!
The disc came in a black bin bag type inner sleeve with the Circuit logo on one side, the labels are printed as proper labels with performance rights details but no dates and the envelope sleeve has the Circuit logo embossed on the front. The label address on the rear is important as it is for the studio where Mute Records recorded the early albums by Depeche Mode, Yazoo etc. To add extra spice to the mystery when I played both sides of the record it actually plays Dionne Warwick's greatest hits.
So, it could be some bizarre art project from pre-Mute days, an in-house only promo (but I would have assumed the music would have matched the labels/sleeve notes.) It's quite a mystery and I LOVE a good mystery record, I've dropped Mute Records an email about it in the hope they may know more but it is a curio that I needed to share in case anyone knows more and can shed further light on such a find.

[lazyhour]

Intriguing!

1. Are the labels properly attached to the record in a way that demonstrates it was actually pressed with these labels each side of the blob of vinyl, or could they have been carefully glued on afterwards? Have you tried lifting one of up along its edge?

2. Can you find any actual Circuit-related releases with that same kind of envelope outer? Is the exact right size for a 12" record?

3. What is etched in the deadwax?

4. What Dionne record is it specifically? Presumably that is on Discogs? Year of release of that comp might help you on your quest.

I had one of these a few years ago. A 7" that purported to be an Xmas song by The Killers but was actually just some random 7" with a fake label and printed outer sleeve. It wasn't professionally printed or anything. I never got to the bottom of it.

[Head Gardener]

Intriguing!

1. Are the labels properly attached to the record in a way that demonstrates it was actually pressed with these labels each side of the blob of vinyl, or could they have been carefully glued on afterwards? Have you tried lifting one of up along its edge?

Thanks for your reply lazyhour, they are properly attached tho I couldn't help peeling back one to see underneath but it doesn't have another label underneath.


2. Can you find any actual Circuit-related releases with that same kind of envelope outer? Is the exact right size for a 12" record?

nope, nothing, though a friend told be the image of the square with the arrows around the logo is a current symbol to do with electricity.

3. What is etched in the deadwax?

SHM 789

4. What Dionne record is it specifically? Presumably that is on Discogs? Year of release of that comp might help you on your quest.

https://www.discogs.com/release/6708000-Dionne-Warwicke-The-Greatest-Hits-Of-Dionne-Warwicke-Vol-1


I had one of these a few years ago. A 7" that purported to be an Xmas song by The Killers but was actually just some random 7" with a fake label and printed outer sleeve. It wasn't professionally printed or anything. I never got to the bottom of it.

I've just sent my post to Record Collector mag as they love this kinda stuff so maybe they know more.

[lazyhour]

Tell us the deadwax runouts! Then at least we can find the Dionne record on Discogs.

[lazyhour]

Sorry, just seen you put the link inside my quoted text!

[lazyhour]

Bloody bizarre that it would be a 1972 record. That just doesn't make any sense! I suppose they might have found the stampers in a cupboard at a pressing plant? Still odd though.

[lazyhour]

Is the producer, EC Clifford, still around? Because he is evidently the common factor between all these tracks. It must be connected to him. Perhaps a promo industry-only comp was planned to showcase his talents, but it never got to the pressing stage? Or it was always intended to be an overly elaborate sort of 'calling card' for the producer and studio? Like a gimmick item to give people instead of a business card? It was maybe never meant to contain a real record. Could have been a one-off item created for an industry event or a party celebrating this producer.

Still doesn't explain why it would have labels pressed professionally onto a 1972 release.

[Head Gardener]

yes, I reckon E.C. Clifford is the key to this mystery but again despite my best efforts have come up with nowt, I have just emailed the Cocteau Twins via their website, they must know something?!

[Jim_MacLaine]

Sounds a bit iffy to me. Is there a track by the Cocteaus called Head Over Heels? There's the 1983 album but Robin G produced that.

There are two connections to Martyn Ware (B.E.F./The Men). Might be worth contacting him.

Personally I reckon this EC Clifford* got this all printed up to impress his mum.

_{*made up name}

[buzby]

The Men - I Don't Depend On You was a 1979 single from the pre-split Human League operating under a pseudonym after being pressured into trying to record using conventional instruments by Virgin. it was produced by the band and Colin Thurston at Red Bus Studios in London, where he was the resident producer. It was later released by Virgin on the 1982 compilation Methods Of Dance Volume 2.

Conflict - The Serenade Is Dead was from a 1983 EP produced by the band, most likely at Southern Studios or Utopia Studios in North London.

The B.E.F. - Secret Life Of Arabia was on Music Of Quality And Distinction Volume One, which was recorded at John Foxx's studio The Garden in Shoreditch, self produced with Nick Patrick as engineer. The dub version of the track in particular was only released on the Virgin compilation mentioned above.

The Wake - Something About You was on Factory, and was recorded at Revolutuion Studios in Cheadle Hulme, with the resident producer Keith 'Oz' McCormick and engineer Stuart Pickering.

China Crisis - No Ordinary Lover was the B-side to their 1982 single No More Blue Horizons (the follow-up to Christian). It was produced by the band and Gil Norton at their local studio, Amazon in Kirkby, It was also on the previously-mentioned Virgin compilation.

I-Level - Give Me (American remix) was their debut single, released by Virgin in 1982. it was produced by the band at The Music Works studio in North London. The remix for the US release was by John Luongo and was also on the previously mentioned Virgin compilation.

Cocteau Twins - Head Over Heels isn't even a track name, it was the name of their second album, released by 4AD in 1983, recorded at Palladium Studios in Edinburgh and produced by the band and John Fryer.

D.A.F. - Kebab Träume was a 1982 single released on Virgin, produced by Conny Plank and recorded at his studio. This version was also on the previously mentioned Virgin compilation. It was a rerecording of their debut single 'Kebabträume', recorded at Cargo Studios in Rochdale and produced by Bob Giddens (who had brought them over from Germany and became thier manager), engineered by John Brierley and released by Mute.

I can't find any producer named 'E.C. Clifford', and none of the tracks above have anything to do with Blackwing Studios, which was owned by Eric Charles Radcliffe (often credited as E. C. Radcliffe, and the Eric of the Yazoo album title). The closest link is John Fryer, who was engineer on both Depeche Mode and Cocteau Twins debut album sessions there. The address 16 Decoy Avenue NW1 was the original home of Mute Records (Daniel Miller's mum's house).

I suspect what you have there is a design and packaging mockup for a sampler to launch a potential sublabel for Mute in about 1982-83, with the designer using mostly the tracklisting from the Virgin Methods Of Dance Volume 2 compilation as boilerplate text. Given the Mute design language of their 1983 releases, It might have even been made by Martyn Atkins.

[Norton Canes]

More like Diode Warwick, eh readers!

[lazyhour]

Fantastic work, @buzby

Now that we know that this dude wasn't even the producer for these tracks - and possibly doesn't even exist - the plot thickens!

[Norton Canes]

Because the four symbols in the logo are diodes.

Just sayin'. Maybe it's a clue. 

[Captain Z]

DAF posts here, maybe ask him.

[Norton Canes]

Now that we know that this dude wasn't even the producer for these tracks

More like this diode!

[lazyhour]

@Norton Canes I appreciate you.

[jamiefairlie]

The Men - I Don't Depend On You was a 1979 single from the pre-split Human League operating under a pseudonym after being pressured into trying to record using conventional instruments by Virgin. it was produced by the band and Colin Thurston at Red Bus Studios in London, where he was the resident producer. It was later released by Virgin on the 1982 compilation Methods Of Dance Volume 2.

Conflict - The Serenade Is Dead was from a 1983 EP produced by the band, most likely at Southern Studios or Utopia Studios in North London.

The B.E.F. - Secret Life Of Arabia was on Music Of Quality And Distinction Volume One, which was recorded at John Foxx's studio The Garden in Shoreditch, self produced with Nick Patrick as engineer. The dub version of the track in particular was only released on the Virgin compilation mentioned above.

The Wake - Something About You was on Factory, and was recorded at Revolutuion Studios in Cheadle Hulme, with the resident producer Keith 'Oz' McCormick and engineer Stuart Pickering.

China Crisis - No Ordinary Lover was the B-side to their 1982 single No More Blue Horizons (the follow-up to Christian). It was produced by the band and Gil Norton at their local studio, Amazon in Kirkby, It was also on the previously-mentioned Virgin compilation.

I-Level - Give Me (American remix) was their debut single, released by Virgin in 1982. it was produced by the band at The Music Works studio in North London. The remix for the US release was by John Luongo and was also on the previously mentioned Virgin compilation.

Cocteau Twins - Head Over Heels isn't even a track name, it was the name of their second album, released by 4AD in 1983, recorded at Palladium Studios in Edinburgh and produced by the band and John Fryer.

D.A.F. - Kebab Träume was a 1982 single released on Virgin, produced by Conny Plank and recorded at his studio. This version was also on the previously mentioned Virgin compilation. It was a rerecording of their debut single 'Kebabträume', recorded at Cargo Studios in Rochdale and produced by Bob Giddens (who had brought them over from Germany and became thier manager), engineered by John Brierley and released by Mute.

I can't find any producer named 'E.C. Clifford', and none of the tracks above have anything to do with Blackwing Studios, which was owned by Eric Charles Radcliffe (often credited as E. C. Radcliffe, and the Eric of the Yazoo album title). The closest link is John Fryer, who was engineer on both Depeche Mode and Cocteau Twins debut album sessions there. The address 16 Decoy Avenue NW1 was the original home of Mute Records (Daniel Miller's mum's house).

I suspect what you have there is a design and packaging mockup for a sampler to launch a potential sublabel for Mute in about 1982-83, with the designer using mostly the tracklisting from the Virgin Methods Of Dance Volume 2 compilation as boilerplate text. Given the Mute design language of their 1983 releases, It might have even been made by Martyn Atkins.

"Cocteau Twins - Head Over Heels isn't even a track name, it was the name of their second album, released by 4AD in 1983, recorded at Palladium Studios in Edinburgh and produced by the band and John Fryer."

My first thought was perhaps it was an early working title for another song or even an abandoned track that they kept the title from?

[Head Gardener]

Brilliant research buzby thank you

[buzby]

"Cocteau Twins - Head Over Heels isn't even a track name, it was the name of their second album, released by 4AD in 1983, recorded at Palladium Studios in Edinburgh and produced by the band and John Fryer."

My first thought was perhaps it was an early working title for another song or even an abandoned track that they kept the title from?

The track timing given for 'Head Over Heels' on the label (6:08) is exactly the same as the track that was in that position on the A side of the Methods Of Dance Volume 2 compilation (the Party Mix of You're My Kind Of Climate by Rip, Rig and Panic).

Similarly, on the other label the track timings given for the Conflict track (4:36 - the real track is 3:02) and The Wake track (8:16 - the real track is 7:52) are the same as the two track names they have replaced from the compilation (Soundtrack For Every Heaven by Simple Minds and the Disconet DJ remix of I'm Afraid Of Me by Culture Club, respectively).

It's pretty apparent that the designer has just randomly replaced a couple of track names when copying the details over (maybe because they would be implausible on a compilation put out by Mute).

Brilliant research buzby thank you

It might be worth seeing if you can get in contact with Daniel Miller to see if he knows/remembers anything about it?

One other thing of note - In 1983 after the end of Yazoo, Vince Clarke set up his own label with Eric Radcliffe called Reset Records, whixh was based out of Blackwing. They signed a deal with RCA (which caused issues as Clarke was still under contract to Mute, so couldn't perform on any of their productions). It might be that Circuit Records was a still-born precursor to Reset Records, possibly from  initially looking at doing a deal with Mute?

[JesusAndYourBush]

Because the four symbols in the logo are diodes.

Just sayin'. Maybe it's a clue. 

It's a bridge rectifier.

[Norton Canes]

Containing four diodes though, yeah? Admittedly I had to google 'electrical symbols'