Un-Chained

The Wolfgang Press - Funky Little Demons

Ripped from a double compact disc set released on 4AD Records (CAD D 4016 CD) in 1994 to high quality lossless flac audio. It has taken quite a while to get to here, but this is the final TWP release. To say the direction taken is quite surprising would be an under statement. Queer hinted to us that the band were moving more commercial and accessible, Funky Little Demons is where the story ended. Going South was an odd choice for a single as it does reflect more on where the band had been rather than where they were going. Chains stands the test of time really well and although trip-hoppy in places, is still a personal favourite, Christianity is dark and moody squelichiness. People Say is pure catchy pop and would have fared well as a single. I would imagine many of the original fans who found the band through The Burden Of Mules or their earlier incarnations would have turned away from these Funky Little Demons. Everybody should take time to listen to this album again.

1 Going South
2 11 Years
3 Blood Satisfaction
4 Chains
5 Christianity
6 Derek The Confessor
7 So Long Dead
8 Executioner
9 She's So Soft
10 New Glass
11 Fallen Not Broken
12 People Say
13 Executioner (Adamson Mix)
14 Christianity (Sherwood Mix)
15 Going South (Adrenalin Mix)
16 11 Years (Sabres Main Mix 1)

About Time

The Wolfgang Press - Time

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on 4AD Records (BAD 1003) in 1993 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. You also get the compact disc version in the archive if high rez is not your thing!

A1 Time
A2 Time Less
B1 Dark Time

The Wolfgang Press - Mama Told Me Not To Come

Ripped from a compact disc single released (BAD 1007 CD) in 1991 to high quality lossless flac audio.

1 Mama Told Me Not To Come
2 Mama Told Me Not To Come (Bad Boy Mix)
3 Summer Time

The Wolfgang Press - A Girl Like You

Ripped from a compact disc single released on 4AD Records (BAD 2006 CD) in 1992 to high quality lossless flac audio.

1 A Girl Like You (7" Mix)
2 Angel
3 A Girl Like You (1000 Times)
4 A Girl Like You (Born To Be Kissed)

Here are the last of my Wolfies singles which mix up Pink Floyd, Randy Newman, Mantronix and Donna Summer! I've posted A Girl Like You on vinyl before so imagine my delight when I found a copy of the cd single in a box recently! 

Deflowered

In Camera - 13 (Lucky For Some)

Ripped from a compact disc compilation album released on 4AD Records (BAD 205 CD) in 1992 to high quality lossless flac audio. I ripped and posted all my In Camera vinyl a few months back. I also have this compilation of their recordings which oddly also features four new 1991 tracks made ten years after the band first split, however this time with The Wolfgang Press's Michael Allen assisting on vocals, consequently any similarity to what The Wolfgang Press were doing at the time much surely be coincedental? 

1 Die Laughing
2 Final Achievement
3 The Conversation
4 The Attic
5 Fragments Of Fear
6 Legion
7 Apocalypse
8 Co-ordinates
9 Fatal Day
10 Pins & Wax
11 On The Retina
12 Colour In The Home
13 Deflowered

Everything Starts With a Q

The Wolfgang Press - Queer

Ripped from a compact disc album released on 4AD Records (CAD 1011CD) in 1991 to high quality lossless flac audio. With each album, the Wolfie's music became more and more accessible, although the subject matter may have raisd a few eyebrows. I understand the US release had to be re-edited as to not upset anybody (they say to just remove a few samples). I'd particularly like to dedicate this to the new President Elect of The USA. Good luck everybody!

1 Birmingham
2 Mama Told Me Not To Come
3 Heavens Gate
4 Riders On The Heart
5 Question Of Time
6 Louis XIV
7 Fakes & Liars
8 Honey Tree
9 The Birdie Song
10 Dreams & Light
11 Sucker
12 Mother Valentine

Toilet Humour

The Wolfgang Press - Bird Wood Cage

Ripped from a compact disc album released on 4AD Records (CAD 810 CD) in 1988 to high quality lossless flac audio. The kick start to the first run of 4AD posts were the earlier TWP releases and now I can move into their later, slightly more commercial work. There are two more albums and a couple of singles to follow this which I'll drop in from time to time so please keep your eyes peeled.

1 King Of Soul
2 Raintime
3 Bottom Drawer
4 Kansas
5 Swing Like A Baby
6 See My Wife
7 The Holey Man
8 Hang On Me (For Papa)
9 Shut That Door

Slowtime

The Wolfgang Press - Raintime

Ripped from a 12" vinyl released on 4AD Records (BAD 907) in 1989 to high quality lossless flac audio.

A1 Raintime (Remix) 4:12
B1 Bottom Drawer (Remix) 5:37
B2 Slowtime

Ripped from a compact disc single released on 4AD Records (BAD 907 CD) in 1989 to high quality lossless flac audio.

1 Longtime
2 Bottom Drawer (Remix)
3 Assassination K. / Kanserous
4 Slowtime

Sounds Like We Are Not in Kansas Anymore

The Wolfgang Press - Kansas

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on 4AD Records (BAD 902) in 1989 to high quality lossless flac audio. Thank you to Paulo for his TWP rips and here is his rip of the Kansas single featuring the track in a variety of remixes. The band were certainly looking for a spot of the alternative dance floor with these booming beats and fantastic wah wah guitar.

A1 Assassination K. / Kanserous
B1 Kansas 3:28
B2 Scratch 3:47
B3 Twister

Standing Up Straight

The Wolfgang Press - Standing Up Straight

Ripped from a compact disc album released on 4AD Records (CAD 606 CD) in 1986 to high quality lossless flac audio.

1 Dig A Hole
2 My Life
3 Hammer The Halo
4 Bless My Brother
5 Fire-Fly
6 Ghost
7 Rotten Fodder
8 Forty Days,Thirty Nights
9 I Am The Crime

Soul Boys

The Wolfgang Press - King Of Soul

Ripped from a 12" vinyl EP released on 4AD Records (BAD 804) in 1988 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. Courtesy of Steve in Norwich it's back to The Wolfgang Press and another run of 4AD related postings. The King Of Soul in three mixes is a mean little number, using industrial hip-hop beats and heavy bass synth, these anti-beats pound angrily out of the speakers. Move over Renegade Sound Wave, the Wolfies were there well before you.

A1 King Of Soul (Crowned Mix) 6:10
B1 De-Throned Mix (K.O.S) 4:16
B2 K.O.S (7 Inch Mix)

That Heat

The Wolfgang Press - Big Sex

Ripped from a 12" vinyl EP single released on 4AD Records (BAD 702) in 1987 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. Actually you get rips from two different rips in this archive. Steve from Norwich lends us his stellar vinyl rip in 24-bits and another blog friend Paulo has sourced the tracks from a Japanese market 4AD compilation compact disc. Enjoy folks!

A1 The Wedding
A2 The Great Leveller
B1 That Heat
B2 God's Number

Rob's Records

The Wolfgang Press - Sweatbox

Ripped from 12" vinyl EP released on 4AD Records (BAD 506) in 1985 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. Many may recall the late Rob Deacon who named his record label after this EP. For me 4AD began to change from 1986 onward as they looked west and became more americentric. To me Sweatbox carried on that original 4AD legacy which has been featured heavily on past pages on ESWA. Back to this record, you will hear clear evidence that TWP had begun to mellow, especially on the quite beautiful I'm Coming Home (Mama), although the title track does reflect on all the twisty funky darkness of their earlier releases.

A1 Heart Of Stone
A2 I'm Coming Home (Mama)
B1 Sweatbox
B2 Muted

Tread Carefully

The Wolfgang Press - Water

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on 4AD Records (BAD 502) in 1985 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. The second TWP rip courtesy of Steve from Norwich featuring two of my favourite tracks My Way and the brooding scary monster that is Fire-Eater. Enjoy.

A1 Tremble (My Girl Doesn't)
A2 My Way
B1 The Deep Briny
B2 Fire-Eater

Ecstasy and Respect

The Wolfgang Press - Scarecrow

Ripped from a 12" vinyl EP released on 4AD Records (BAD 409) in 1984 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. Last week I put the call out for rips of the original The Wolfgang Press EPs as blog-follower Thierry reminded us that most of the original versions had not appeared on CD. So with thanks especially to Paulo and Steve from Norwich, we now appear to have the set. This is Steve's 24-bit rip from his rather immaculate Scarecrow vinyl. The remainder will be scattered over the next few days/weeks as time allows. I wonder what Aretha would have made of it all? Enjoy!

A1 Ecstasy
B1 Deserve
B2 Respect

We Need To Talk About The Wolfgang Press

The Wolfgang Press - The Burden Of Mules

Originally released as an album on 4AD Records (CAD 308) in 1983. Ripped here from a cd reissue to high quality lossless flac audio. Most blog followers don't get to read the blog comments unless they actually interact with one of the threads, so I am making a post proper of this in the hope that some of you can help. We are running an appeal for high resolution rips of the early Wolfgang Press singles on 4AD and are hoping some of the blog readership can assist who have copies of Scarecrow, Water, Sweatbox or Big Sex. Please get in touch via the blog email address or in the comments below if you can. Thanks.

A1 Lisa (The Passion)
A2 Prostitute I
A3 The Burden Of Mules
A4 Complete And Utter
A5 Prostitute II
A6 Slow As A Child
B1 Journalists
B2 Give It Back
B3 On The Hill

They're No Angels

The Wolfgang Press - A Girl Like You b/w Angel

Another band who went through a change of direction were 4AD stalwarts, The Wolfgang Press. Seeking to avoid commercialism with their first three albums with their difficult indie-rock, the Wolfies suddenly cheered up with a cover of Mama Told Me Not To Come and their upbeat and more accessible fourth long player, Queer (I have a cd copy somewhere).

This double a-side single followed on a few years later marking a remarkable shift to the centre ground with trancey beats, bleeps and riffy guitars. I am unsure if their hardcore, slightly crusty goth following kept with them, but I actually liked this and their final album Funky Little Demons (available if there's demand too). A Girl Like You comes in three versions, though the eight minute plus Born To Be Kissed does seem to stretch the patience a bit - nice synths and great riff though. Angel is a gentle, catchy little sentimental number, and totally out of character.

Ripped from a slightly crackly 12" single released on 4AD Records (BAD 2006) in 1992 to high quality lossless flac audio.

A1 A Girl Like You
A2 A Girl Like You (1000 Times)
B1 Angel
B2 A Girl Like You (Born To Be Kissed)