Remixes: good or bad?

Do we, NO fans, love or loathe remixes of our favorite band's songs? Are they shite? Are they (God forbid!) BETTER than the originals? Are they a different and often interesting way of looking at the songs...or are they a pathetic marketing manouvre? My opinion? I've got mixed feelings about this, as I'm shore some of you have. I LOVE (I really do!) Shep Pettibone's BLT and True Faith's remixes (from the 1986 and 1987 12"s), TWA's True Faith mix (from the 1994 CDS), K-Klass's Ruined in a day mix (the "reunited in a day" one: it's on "The rest of"), 60 mph Supermen lovers' mix and some others... BUT I hate with a passion that dreadful John Robie mix of "Subculture" (I'll never forget the day I bought that shitty piece of vynil...), those "Crystal" mixes... AND, of course, those hideous, preposterous reggae mixes of "Ruined" (Oh yes, I bought that too!). So, is that Pete Tong fella a true music fan or a gutless Big Multinational Label exec?

YOU HAVE MENTIONED 2 OF MY FAVS...THE SHEP PETTIBONE B.L.T WAS AHEAD OF ITS TIME....AND THE K-KLASS RUINED IN A DAY IS COLD AS ICE....BUT AGAIN YOU ARE RIGHT THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN SOME SHITE MIXES...STATE OF THE NATION,SUBCULTURE,FINE TIME...THE LIST IS ENDLESS...I WONDER HOW MUCH INPUT NEW ORDER HAVE IN THE FINISHED ARTICLE???MY GUESS IS ZERO AS THEY CANT,COULDNT BE ARSED TO CHECK..

Im not a fan of remixes and never listen to them. Just a fan of the original versions.

I must admit that i do like remixes and the splendid artwork that accompanies them.There are always shite ones but you need more to then be selective and see the true worth of a song...usually the ORIGINAL,,,eh BRENDAN? ROCKET REMIXED MICK

Originally posted by PAUL TROWELL YOU HAVE MENTIONED 2 OF MY FAVS...THE SHEP PETTIBONE B.L.T WAS AHEAD OF ITS TIME....AND THE K-KLASS RUINED IN A DAY IS COLD AS ICE....BUT AGAIN YOU ARE RIGHT THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN SOME SHITE MIXES...STATE OF THE NATION,SUBCULTURE,FINE TIME...THE LIST IS ENDLESS...I WONDER HOW MUCH INPUT NEW ORDER HAVE IN THE FINISHED ARTICLE???MY GUESS IS ZERO AS THEY CANT,COULDNT BE ARSED TO CHECK..

Are you refering to Shame of the Nation? ... a truly commendable alternative version of SOTN. If not, then what re-mix of SOTN have you come across?

The older re-mixes had more thought and more musical content which sometimes added to the original song (which could never be bettered). As synths became accessible to people and the ability to re-mix easier, the quality of re-mixes became tiresome. Only scant few re-mixes deserve credit these days ... mostly are wank.

Even though The Republican wasn't a great album the singles that were lifted did produce some splendid mixes (the bogle mixes of RIAD notwithstanding).

Rugrat Coney Island Baby Mix, The K-Klass one and the Spooky mixes were v.good. In the case of Spooky turning a terrible effort into quite a storming tune.

Some of the previous 'dub' versions have been excellent as well such as Evil Duster (one of my personal favourites), Bizarre Dub Triangle, True Dub and The Beach which is a masterpiece.

Everthing post The Republican has been very tiresome, especially all the re-releases and Rest Of CD, culminating in some quite terrible releases such as the mixes of 60MPH which was only redeemed by the 'Topcat' mix of HTS.

Ahhh...Remixes..how I do love/despise thee....? Let's just re-cap once again...

The GOOD

1. 1963 - Arthur Baker 1995 mix
2. Regret - Sabres Slow'n'Low / Fire Island
3. BLT - Stephen Hague mixes
4. Ruined In A Day - K-KLass mixes
5. Round And Round - Detroit mix
6. World - Perfecto mix

The BAD

1. Subculture - John Robie
2. Shame Of The Nation - John Robie
3. Blue Monday - 1995 mixes
4. 1963 - Lioncrock/Joey T mixes
5. Crystal - Lee Combs/John Creamer
6. 60mph - Supermen Lovers mix
7. Fine Time - messed around mix
8. Bizarre Love Triangle - Shep Pettibone edit
9. Shellshock - John Robie full length
10. Confusion - pump panel reconstruction

The UGLY

1. Ruined In A 5-Track Digipak - Sly and Robbie
2. The Rest of - much of that compilation (especially BLT, Age Of Consent and Touched...)
3. Someone Like You - the original's bad enough, let alone the remixes!

World -Perfecto Mix- and the RIAD (Reunited In a Day Remix and Ambient Mix) are IMO way better than the Republic versions.

And I like some of the Round and Round and Vanishing Point mixes too (I forgot about them, damit). They are like good long versions of the songs.

what do you know? :p rocket mick

Generally remixes do not agree with me, however the completist in me made me buy "The rest of" and I must say that the Fire Island Mix of Regret is simply superb which is a bit like having perfection repackaged, reformulated and improved..

The input of the band equals zero.I do believe that NO learn of these mixes same time as we do (maybe later depending on whether they receive their paychecks monthly or quarterly.)

The Rest of New Order should be titled NO Abortions. A truly crappy disc that leaves me yearning for the originals or at least the remixes that came with the original releases.

Originally posted by francois-marc loze And I like some of the Round and Round and Vanishing Point mixes too (I forgot about them, damit). They are like good long versions of the songs.

I only know of the album version and the instrumental. I've heard rumours of mixes done back in 1994 for an aborted single - does anyone have mp3s of them???

Regards, Andrew Morrison Email: morriso@btinternet.com ICQ No. 52250781 Website: http://www.trustnoone.org.uk

I agree too, the 80s mixes from Shep Pettibone and Stephen Hague of TF & BLT were great (not to mention the Morning Sun remix!). I also liked the Arthur Baker remix of 1963 as well as the Republic single mixes (save the oft-trite reggae RIAD ones) and most the Technique mixes, especially the Detroit mix of R&R. Blue Monday '88 and Blue Monday '95 were mediocre mixes but I still like them. I really liked the Biff & Memphis remix of TbtHoG too as well as the various versions. I re-listened to the WiM cd single the other day and was surprised how good the No Allo Violenza mix was; I knew the b-side was always good but this mix was great.

I haven't checked out the mixes from Crystal and the new stuff, but I will say the worst remix has to be the Armand Van Helden remix of BLT. Terrible! Other than that (and the reggae mixes of RIAD) I can't really say that I "hate" any of the remixes. As a completist, I try to give them a fair chance and let them grow on me and appreciate them from a different level. However, rarely do any remixes outdo the originals.

Originally posted by ShugZV Hubie BabyThe BAD1) Subculture - John Robie2) Shame Of The Nation - John Robie5) Crystal - Lee Combs/John Creamer7) Fine Time - messed around mix9) Shellshock - John Robie full lengthI know it's your opinion - so I can't argue with that me ole mucker;) Just surpised, love all of the aboveAgree with yer good choices though!I particularly enjoy the Touched remix on the US version (Double A-side with BM I think)

ShugZiVah, I stand stoically by what I said....so there... :p

I forgot to add that the Temptation (CJ Bolland mix) was almost as bad as the Armand Van Helden mix of BLT. The Everything's Gone Green mixes weren't all that great either.

ambient mix of RUIAD is excellent, as is getting away with it (nude mix) getting away with it (vocal remix) and of course Get The Message (dna sin and groove mixes) slightly o/t being Electronic but they are class :)

rockets confused mix is the dogs danglers and is destined to become the ultimate collectors item!!

Music for the HARD OF HEARING.................

Don't know why, but I've always been a sucker for remixes in general, as long as its a decent song in the first place.

There's just something interesting about seeing someone else's take on the track, plus it can allow you to enjoy all over again a classic that's gone stale on you.

What I hate is when some deluded knob-twiddler gets delusions of grandeur and uses the 'remix' as a pretext for trying to write his own song that bears no relationship whatsoever to the original (e.g. those ghastly 1963 remixes). Just stick to what you do best, remix technicians, let someone else write the song and then you can use the appliance of science to polish it up to a fine sheen.

I still remember when Blue Monday first came out, hearing the Beach and naively thinking, gosh, its like, the same, but...different.

Well said Pete - the 'knob twiddlers' really shit the event up if left un-supervised. Its very distressing that some mixes of great songs sound sod all like the original, it makes me feel quite ill.

Micky Rock, I played the live CD of the Friday night at the Apollo and its not too bad. I won't push you for the 2nd half as I was a bit dissapppointed at Bernie missing the first words of the first song Crystal and thus I immediately became less interested yet curious. However, the sound is fairly good so thanks very much for sending the gear!!!

Paul, what is this mix that is as good as danglers!?

[Content deleted by Huntsman on 6/20/2002 11:31:59 AM EDT]

Best New Order remix ever, I think, is the Fire Island version of Regret, closely followed by the Dresden and Gabriel version of Someone Like You. I quite like the Spooky Magimix as well.

Originally posted by Huntsman Paul, what is this mix that is as good as danglers!?

rocket did me some mixes of confusion...the postie was dancing up the road bringing the c.d!!

Staying on the theme of remixes i too live the FIRE ISLAND MIX of REGRET,SLY ...some great remixes there but i have just received some excellent remixes from MUFFY including a rare THIEVES LIKE US (STOLEN MIX) and EVIL DUST and a superb VANISHING POINT (TRACE MIX).Do you want a copy PAUL? RM

yes please i love vanishing point...keep em coming rocket man!!!

i cant offer alot in return im afraid unless i nick some of my dads neil diamond collection!!!!

I have almost every REMIX there is or so i thought but am extremely happy to share this with you,copying now has my supply ran out sending 5 other NOOLs said mixes today. Glad to be of assistance and i think this is ONE of the MAJOR benefits of this site. SHARE THE BOOTY. RM

Remixes are to singles as ringtones are to music