Random Free Agents

Free Agents - £3.33

Originally released as a vinyl album on Groovy Records (STP 1) in 1980. Recreated here from lossless digital flac audio files (likely sourced from vinyl). A bit of an obscurity from Manchester's Free Agents who were Eric Ramsden (aka Random), Pete Shelley, Frank Cookson and Alan Deaves. 

The sleeve is a plain white masterbag (as used in record stores) with a photocopied doodle attached in a PVC sleeve with a £3.33 price sticker. No band or track titles are mentioned.

Side A is Ramsden and Cookson live onstage supporting Gang Of Four at York University in 1978, side B is Shelley, Ramsden,  Cookson and Deaves recorded in Graveyard Studios. Expect four toe tapping tunes to keep the family entertained over the weekend.

A1 Untitled
B1 Untitled
B2 Untitled
B3 Untitled

Can You Tell What It Is, Yet?

Pete Shelley - I Don't Know What It Is

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Genetic Records (12WIP 6740) in 1981 to 24-bit high resolution flac audio. The final extract in this round of Shelley posts. I am not to sure the screeching synthetic guitar solos do the a-side any favours, but the eight minute instrumental b-side is well worth the price of admission.

A1 I Don't Know What It Is
B1 Witness The Change / I Don't Know What It Is (Instrumental Version)

Strange Men In The Studio With Spanners

Pete Shelley - XL1

Originally released as a vinyl album on Island Records (XL 1) in 1983. Ripped here from a 1999 compact disc reissue to high quality lossless flac audio. Martin Rushent and Pete Shelley hook up at Genetic Studios to create one of the eighties finest synthpop albums. This reissue cd also features the splendid 13 minute dub of Telephone Operator and Many A Time, and thankfully ignored the need to include that bloody ZX Spectrum program.

01 Telephone Operator
02 If You Ask Me (I Won't Say No)
03 What Was Heaven?
04 You Know Better Than I Know
05 Twilight
06 (Millions Of People) No One Like You
07 Many A Time
08 I Just Wanna Touch
09 You And I
10 XL1
11 If You Ask Me / No One Like You (Dub)
12 Telephone Operator / Many A Time (Dub)

Love Bytes

Pete Shelley - Homosapien

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Genetic Records (12WIP 6720) in 1981 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. I seem to have misplaced my copy of the Homosapien album, so you'll just have to make do with the 12" remix single. I'm a cruiser ...you're the loser - Classic post-punk synthpop with great lyrics, but plenty of gay sex references unfortunately led to a ban on mainstream British radio.

A1 Homosapien (Dance Version)
B1 Homosapien (Elongated Dancepartydubmix)

Still Waiting....?

Pete Shelley - Waiting For Love

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Mercury Records (MERX DJ 215) in 1986 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio.

A1 Waiting For Love (Extended)
B1 Waiting For Love
B2 Designer Lamps

On Your Own

Pete Shelley - On Your Own

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Mercury Records (MERX 221) to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. Reformed Mancunian punk releases hi-energy disco monster with more than a little help from Stephen Hague.

A1 On Your Own (New York Mix)
B1 On Your Own (Dub Mix)
B2 Please Forgive Me ... But I Cannot Endure It Any Longer