Salvo | UK | 12″ | 2014 | SALVOTWS01
Frankie Goes To Hollywood: Relax 30th Anniversary Edition UK 12″ [2014]
- Relax [sex mix edition 3] – 8:10
- Ferry ‘Cross The Mersey – 4:08
- Relax [the instrumental] – 4:35
It’s getting so you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a 30th or even 40th anniversary edition of some seminal album, now being remastered and sold in an elite edition of 5xCDs and a DVD/Blu-Ray in a box selling for three easy figures these days. Truth be told, this Monk is getting a little bored with it all. In fact, the trend has probably peaked for me, with The Quietus going 25th anniversary pieces on music from 1988 that are far past the seminal Post-Punk period that is this blog’s métier. However, this is one such record that I find merits the effort, and in a radical move, is a 12″ single instead of an album.
But was there ever a 12″ single that arrived with the impact of “Relax,” by Frankie Goes To Hollywood? The only thing that even hinted to its power beforehand was New Order’s “Blue Monday.” Our friends at ZTT, who generations ago, trained us to buy many, many versions of their fine goods are letting this one drop on February 10, 2014. Thirty years to the day since the original “Relax” began its assault on the world charts and 12″ single history.
As is plainly evident, the single cover has been remixed from the by-now-memorized green and peach sleeve art to monochrome with magenta and blue. The sleeve will have a full LP style spine complete with photographic inner sleeve as befits the occasion. Best of all, unlike many anniversary editions, this one will retail for the normal cost for a 12″ single, making its purchase far from extravagant, but it’s been whispered that this is an edition of 3000 copies, so if you want it… act sooner than later.
Of course, with ZTT pulling the strings, you knew that this would not be another straight issue of the previous Sex Mix [16:24] or the more common New York Mix [7:20]. It’s not even the Sex Mix Edit [8:20] but instead this is being called the Sex Mix Edition 3 [8:10]. It is the mix of the track that has previously appeared on the hideously expensive “Return To The Pleasuredome” Japanese-only ZTT extravaganza as well as the smartly priced “Art of the 12″ Vol. 1.” It now finally makes its debut on 12″ wax where it belongs.
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Post-Punk Monk 
Never fails to amuse me how many one or two hit wonders go on to publish anthologies, retrospectives, reissues and multidisc “greatest hits” albums. Many BARELY had a career in music in the first place! I guess that’s why it’s the music BUSINESS- got to keep pushing that product. I guess if the Spice Girls can do it anyone can.
Now FGTH definitely made an impact in their brief 15 minutes of fame. If I am to understand this is actual vinyl, kudos to them for that.
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orange county dj – Bands that have two albums and over one compilation to their name are a particular problem with me, but ZTT get a pass due to the hyperactive amounts of remixes issued. The fact that this is a 12″ single at less than a king’s ransom is completely appropriate to me.
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Paul Morley took advantage of Trevor Horn’s inability to ever be satisfied with a single edit. Everything was safed, reviewed and an action plan created to release. Based on the amount of studio time Horn and Co. would take to finish any one track or mix, ZTT HAD to release as much as possible to get back at least some of the cost of recording. For the fan/collector, this was a bonus of great proportions.
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Good lord, check this out.
And the really sad thing is that if I had the money I would pledge on this beast.
http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/frankiegoestohollywood/
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Tim – …As would we all!! But mamacita …that’s a lotta clams!!!
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Blurg! It’s not available to pledgers in the USA. Gee, lame distribution rules have saved me from myself.
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Tim – This is even worse, because now you’ll have to buy it on the aftermarket… which will assuredly cost more that $200+ smackers! I should want this, but what would make my knees buckle is a similar set for “A Secret Wish,” the ne plus ultra of ZTT! Thanks for the “blurg,” by the way! Was that a “spit take?”
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“Blurg” was a joke on early seasons of “30 Rock.” I think I can say that I adore Tina Fey without violating any restraining orders.
There’s a website called Superdeluxeedition and I have it on my Facebook feed and I often feel like a refuge from High Fidelity condescending the junk that they assemble and call a deluxe edition. That Frankie set, good lord, THAT’S HOW IT’S DONE. I really don’t splurge for that sort of thing but that one, a set that revolved around the Cold War and the recent Lee Hazlewood sets are the only ones that I’ve seen that are really worth the money.
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