7 X 7 INCH — PART TWO

A further selection of 7″ singles with their parent albums, this time featuring a few Aus favourites.

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Midnight Oil — Diesel and Dust (1987) + “Beds are Burning” single

The back cover of the 45rpm continues the theme, and indeed the photo.

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Roger Waters — Radio K.A.O.S. (1987) + “Radio Waves” single

Roger’s second solo album. I love that the LP cover is so minimal but that the single adds data and visual continuity.

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Tim Finn — Escapade (1983) + “Staring at the Embers” single.

With Phil Judd, Tim was co-found of Split Enz. This, his first solo album, yielded two successful singles. Having a love of linocut prints, I really like the 7″ cover. So much that I have the 12″ version as well.

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As a long term Steely Dan and Donald Fagen fan, the pull to collect all the rarities is strong. Fagen contributed the excellent “Century’s End” to Bright Lights, Big City, a rather forgettable Michael J Fox film from 1988. The 45rpm cover picks up the design of the LP, but moves from the neon lit personal to the built environment.

The OST also includes tracks from Prince, Depeche Mode, and Bryan Ferry.

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The Reels — The Reels (1979) + “Prefab Heart” single.

A great little band from Sydney via Dubbo, The Reels produced some excellent songs. They often contained catchy melodic hooks, while the lyrics tended to include a hint of sadness. While not quite as sublime as “Quasimodo’s Dream” (near the top of my Favourite Singles Ever list), “Prefab Hearts” is very good.

Visually, the late 70s dayglo fashion contrasts neatly with the bold solid colours of the LP.

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Hunters & Collectors — Human Frailty (1986) + “Everything’s On Fire” single.

Formed in Melbourne in 1981, H&C were based around the voice and songwriting of Mark Seymour (older brother of Crowded House’s Nick Seymour).

The way the artist has produced an alternative version of the LP ‘logo’ is clever. The felt-pen colouring in of the 7″ cover design give it a folk-art feel yet retains the bold logo motif. Continuity with variations.

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Yes — 90125 (1983) + “It Can Happen” single.

Another example of the 45rpm taking its cue from the LP design.

“Owner of a lonely heart”, the big hit from the LP, used the same device; variations on a theme.

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What did you enjoy here?

3 comments

  1. Oddly perhaps it is the simplicity and stark contrasting colours of the Waters pair that appeals most to me today.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s good, isn’t it? One of my favourites too.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. I might have told you that I have one of those machines that plays these nasty little discs so because of that I would pick up certain ones that are cool to look back on. Zep had that one popular non album song that I managed to find. Does Bruce know the one. I’m trying to think of a prize. How about the ‘Shifting Whispering Sands’ with Ken Nordine. That’s on the box.

    Like

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