I’ll start off by explaining what this is. It is taken from the original acetate recording/mix for the 80-f album. This is the version that was produced by Tony Mansfield (no relation) and ultimately rejected by CBS records. CBS had the band go to Germany with ex-Fly’s drummer Peter King, to re-record the album. It was remixed and reproduced by Reinhold Mack. Three songs were killed (Another World / Operator / Satellite In Orbit) and three new songs were added (Wild West Show / Why Can’t We Be Friends / Joanne). I am guessing that some of you are intentionally reading this review just to hear me lose my mind and I will not disappoint. Exactly what the suits at CBS were thinking completely mystifies me. I mean had they even listened to the 2 Cars albums that had come out at this point and were dominating the charts. ATF were exactly as good if not better than The Cars and this mix was exactly that sound that was dominating the charts. Furthermore what was wrong with Nick Brotherwood’s drumming? The drum track on this album is dead on and absolutely perfect. Tony nailed this mix and we had a 3 or 4 single album here. In the end we are blessed that this version leaked and we want to thank friend of the channel Randy Layton (Alternative Records) for getting us a copy of what was probably going to be one of the top albums of 1980. Instead CBS dumbed it down and destroyed it. SIGH
Tracklist
1 – Starlight – 4:24
2 – High Fashion – 3:18
3 – Another World – 3:36
4 – Can You face It? – 3:20
5 – Operator – 3:45
6 – Love Will Always Make You Cry – 4:00
7 – 1980-F – 2:37
8 – Satellite In Orbit – 3:18
9 – Who’s Gonna Love You – 4:21
10 – Billy, Billy – 4:30
Credits
Bass, Lead Vocals – Andy Piercy
Drums – Nick Brotherwood
Keyboards – Peter Memory Banks
Lead Guitar – John Russell
Producer, Engineer – Tony Mansfield
Companies, etc.
Lacquer Cut At – Tape One
Hi Ray, Discogs says this acetate has a final track ‘Starflight (Reprise)’ on. Do you have it?
best wishes
madbear
No for some reason it got lost in the transfer to digital. I checked around and no one else has it either. That said I’m planning to talk to Peter Banks soon so maybe he has it.
Hello, I am the owner of this acetate (I posted it to Discogs), and it’s discovery was quite a shock to me. I was in London, in 1999, visiting Oxford Street’s Virgin Mega Store by Centrepoint. As was my routine, I also visted the tiny back street behind the store where there were, at the time, a few second hand vinyl stores. Browing the A section of one of them I stumbled across this item. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. My simple assumption is that when nearby Tape One closed they off-loaded much of their stock, including this unique item. It cost me a crisp £100, and I didn’t eat for a week. The Starflight reprise is a short instrumental featuring the opening to the song played backwards. I don’t think Peter has it.
Nice site btw. Cheers. Jules
I believe we got this from Peter
Ah good. I must have given him a copy sometime when we transferred his reels to minidisc. There’s an awful lot of outtakes in his archive, especially for Batteries Not Included.