[…continued from this post]
Today we’ll continue and hopefully finish looking at the career of PPM icon Midge Ure as a producer of other peoples records. We got into this a few weeks ago and I knew the timing was bad with the travel about to happen, but I recklessly plowed ahead with it and for once, I haven’t lost the plot!
Strasse – Följa John
SWE LP | 1981
It looks like Midge co-produced most of the tracks on this Swedish only LP from the holy year of 1981.
Modern Man – Concrete Scheme
UK LP | 1980
This was a full album that Midge did his first big outside production to, apart from the concurrent “Visage” album. Modern Man were the band that Daniel Mitchell and Colin King came from after Modern Man split to become Messengers. “Probably the closest vibe here to “Wastelands” was used by Ure for his first solo album, along with King + Mitchell songwriting.
Strasse – Crash Slowly
SWE 7″ | 1981
A non-LP single from Strasse.
Ronny – If You Want Me To Stay
UK 12″ | 1981
I have this one, and the singer gave the Euroslink treatment to the Sly Stone classic with Midge and Rusty Egan co-producing. My copy of this is pretty bad off, so I need a better one!
Modern Man – Things Could Be Better
UK 12″ | 1981
One last shot at the charts for Modern Man with this non-LP A-side, but to no avail.
Messengers – I Turn Into You
UK 7″ | 1982
I actually have two copies of this 7″ but I still need the 12″ version. Possibly the closest any record on the planet came to attaining the Ultravox sound.
Phillip Lynott – Together
UK 12″ | 1982
Another Lynott single as produced by Ure, this one has an extended remix A-side! If It’s a fifth as great as “Yellow Pearl,” I’ll still be over the moon once I get one.
Suchi – Love Me Today
EURO 7″ | 1982
This record is wild. The Euro 7″ was known by the band name Suchi.
Corect Spelling – Love Me Today
CAN 12″ | 1982
It was only a 12″ in Canada, with an extended A-side, but the band name [but not the sleeve] has changed, as you can see. Getting the Canadian 12″ will get me everything.
Cold Fish – Love Me Today
UK 7″ | 1982
And a third band name for the UK edition, now known as “Cold Fish!” Similar to “Suchi,” I guess, but does anyone know the full story here? I’m flabbergasted by it all. And why is the nudity on the British and not the European sleeve??!
Steve Harley + Cockney Rebel – I Can’t Even Touch You
CAN 12″ | 1982
The only Steve Harley song that Ure produced, but you know he was a big fan!
Zaine Griff – Swing
UK 12″ | 1983
The Ure cut here was the B-side that he produed; a cover of “Passionate Reply!”
Strasse – A Stairway To You
UK 12″ | 1983
I have this record, the one time Strasse gave it a shot in the UK market before fading away following this release.
Messengers – Frontiers
UK 12″ | 1984
Why are Messengers records so bloody difficult to find in America? I knew about this at the time and I’m still looking! I have bought the only Messengers records I’ve ever seen in the bins in The States: two copies of “I Turn Into You.”
Messengers – Great Institutions
UK 12″ | 1984
Another Saville-sleeved record from Midge’s boutique label, Musicfest, to taunt me with its absence from my Record Cell.
Band Aid – Do They Know Its Christmas?
US 7″/12″ | 1984
I have the 7″ of this but now that I think about it, I never got the 1984 Trevor Horn 12″ remix of it!!? This record was a line in the sand for Midge’s production career. After this he was busy with Band Aid or his solo career. Making any further productions rare events. Ironically, he was busiest as a producer when he was in two bands simultaneously from ’80-’82!
Paul Young – Softly Whispering Your Name
UK CD5″ | 1990
Midge produced the live B-side on this CD single with Young duetting with…Phil Collins. The song? “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling!”
The Party – The Party
US CD| 1990
By far the weirdest Midge Ure production here. This was a Tween Hip-Hop act featuring ex-Mouskateers® and signed to Disney’s Hollywood Records label! How in the hell did this event happen??! The track? The Mann-Weil classic “Walking In The Rain!”
Michel Van Dyke – She Comes At The End Of The Day
EURO CD5 | 1994
This maxi-single was co-produced by Ure with heavy Peter Godwin involvement [mixing/lyrics] from Dutch artist Van Dyke.
Ryouchi Yuki – Dear God
JPN CD | 1994
I remember reading about this in the pages of the Ultravox fanzine, “Extreme Voice” when it came out. It’s the last big, full bodied, Midge Ure outside production. With his usual cohorts Brian Tench and the Brzezecki Brothers…and Mick Karn!
Paul Claxton – Don’t Ask Me How
UK CD-R | 2000
The tale endeth here, with what looked for all the world like Midge helping out one of his students with a demo project. Midge contributed bass, keys, programming + production on the final cut, “Let’s See.” If there are further productions, they have not made it to Discogs.
Of course, this list eschewed any Ultravox, solo, and Visage recordings. We just wanted Midge as a credit; not the star. And the “Bloodied Sword” album stands apart from all of this, in many ways. If I make a CD of everything I suspect that it’ll end up being 3xCD-Rs. To do a properly encyclopedic job of things. But the notion is strong to also make a single disc “Produced By Midge Ure” that would be a piece to hit all of the highlights. Possibly including solo/Visage material as well for it to stand as a real statement. Seeing as how I need to buy a lot of recordings, this may be something that happens in my retirement as It’s at least a decade worth of acquisitions staring me in the face here. But the idea has stuck with me for years. It’s too tempting a target to pass up.
-30-
![Want List: Visage DLX RM […finally!]](https://i0.wp.com/postpunkmonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/visage-dlxrmuscda.jpeg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1)
Post-Punk Monk 
Audio release of last years Royal Albert Hall “70th birthday” concert coming in November :)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DGMC6QKB
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david lusman – That’s a pretty good concert! I’d be interested in hearing that and I’m glad it was recorded for release.
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Midge also produced and played on this ( though credited as “otto Flake jr” !)
https://www.discogs.com/release/492836-Glenn-Gregory-And-Claudia-Br%C3%BCcken-When-Your-Heart-Runs-Out-Of-Time-320
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david lusman – Curse me for the novice!! I know that and have the 7” and 12” of that but didn’t think to drill down into the a.k.a. credits on Discogs during my hurried posting!
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If it makes you feel any better I live in the UK and I’ve only ever seen (and bought) the 1st Messengers 7″ in 1982. If I’d have seen the 12″ or the other two singles I’d have bought them too, but alas I never have.
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richardanvil – So it’s not just me in America?? It sounds like Chrysalis/Musicfest pressed up the first single in larger numbers and when it missed the charts, the numbers pressed may have been smaller. A theory, any way.
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I did get the Philip Lynott 12″ in 1982 and loved it.
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Speaking of Midge Ure – just saw him last night at a brewery (Bayboro) in St Pete, FL – maybe about 120-150 people in the audience. He was 2 feet away from me. It was him and a keyboard player only and he played a wide range of his music from his career. Awesome concert – so intimate. He’s calling this tour Midge Ure, Band in a Box. Frankly shocked me that tickets were available at a low price and that I was able to be in the front. I missed his RAB show due to work commitments when in Germany – this may have been a better show in terms of close-up experience. Got some great pics and videos :)
I just have his best hits compilation – listened to it on the drive home – he’s still got it live.
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Deserat – It boggles my mind how Midge Ure plays Florida like a champ now. From 1980 to 2001 there was that Tampa Ultravox show in September of 1980 at The Cuban Club in Ybor City and then… nothing for the rest of my life in Florida. Now he plays Orlando venues I could walk to (if I wanted to be covered in perspiration at the show) if I still lived in our home there! He played a date in MOUNT DORA on this tour!! I still can’t believe it but I’m glad you were part of his audience in St. Pete! You need some more Midge on your shelves. Just saying.
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He was great – he talked about his early days, coming to America – the college stations being the only radio stations that would play the music, the response of absolute horror of the record company execs/promoters in the US to Astra such that the US release of Vienna is the *only* one that did not have Astra as the first song on the album (this was right before he played Astra), how the record company treated him and Ultravox, etc. At one point some people were talking in the audience and he said “Shut the F*** up!” Cracked me up – why go to a concert to talk to people during the music session? Hahahahaha – in any case, was a nice experience – oh, forgot I had Rage in Eden – your posts persuaded me to buy that – should probably give that CD a ‘spin’ soon….
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Deserat – “Rage In Eden.” The definitive High Ultravox album. Imagine hearing it when it came out as you listen.
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People who like Ultravox material but are not “deep fans” of the band are always AGOG when I proclaim that RiE is the best Ure-era Ultravox album. Shirley it’s Vienna, they cry!
This is responded to by cuing up “The Voice” … nuff said!
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Midge has so much good work over several bands…..that is why he is so entertaining as well as enjoyable in his ‘solo’ venture he just did…tbh I did not realize how many of the songs he had sung I knew when seeing him last week (and at the Halloween show in Dortmund).
Same with the Pet Shop Boys – I did not collect any CDs/cassettes/albums of their work when younger as they weren’t a fave and frankly did not have funds to buy physical media as much. Nevertheless, I am amazed and very happy when going to concerts now that I do know many of the songs and truly enjoy them now as then.
And Rage in Eden is wonderful….
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Deserat – I’m chastened that after 44 years of fandom, I still don’t have the Rich Kids album! But I have a Slik record! There’s something wrong with me.
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Wiki says the band was “Cold Fish” and the record company changed it to “Corect Spelling” ( note the ironic spelling :) ) in Canada without telling the band . Doesnt say anything about “Suchi” .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_McAdorey
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david lusman – No! In my haste I did not notice the ironic spelling!
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Midge is fantastic. Still doing what he loves . Performing the music he loves in big or intimate venues with or without a band.
The band aka India electric co are off on a tour then all back together again I’m sure soon.
I love the studio writing recording mixing new music and sometimes I get to DJ or talk about it. If you love Midge investigate my 2009 -2024 inc Glorious mixes and Fade To Grey Cinimatic and Blitzed with Chris Payne. And a few more tunes
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Rusty Egan – Midge Ure is a solid gentleman! I will never forget the kindness he extended to me the first time we were [finally] seeing him live after 36 years of fandom. We loved “Glorious” on the “1980 Tour” streaming show. I have DLs of your “Blitzed” remixes… I need to go all the way. That Cage single you did with Ms. Nona Hendryx was smoking hot! Are there any more like that in a tape cupboard somewhere? I told Midge Ure that he needs to do a duo project with Glenn Gregory. Maybe you should revisit Nona on a project again? I’d queue up for that one!
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rustyegan.com takes you to my mixcloud or my own released remakes of Ronny – Nona – and many more past glories
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I just saw Midge in concert a few weeks ago in Portland, Oregon, my first time seeing him, and it was one of the best concert experiences of my life! A tremendously enjoyable and entertaining evening of music, and so nice to finally hear him live after following his music for four decades!
Where might one find these mixes of yours, and under precisely what name?
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Are you the Rusty Egan who did the pre-show at the Hammersmith for DEVO in London last spring? Amazing – I am American but sat next to a lady from Ireland who went on and on about how you were an icon in the 80s for British teens/young adults. You did do a mighty fine mix before the show!!!
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Deserat – He is in fact the legendary Rusty Egan: icon. I’ve been following his exploits as long as I’ve been following Midge’s.
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Cool! :-)
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