The compilation LP was released only in the UK, New Zealand, and the Philippines. Does this speak to the band's fan base? My feeling is that they were not popular in Canada. I don't believe I ever heard this band's music on the radio. Anyway, I have a copy of the UK pressing.
Though their first LP, the whole of their early output on the Postcard label, and a few well-chosen singles are preferable to this greatest-hits sampler, this is still a great record by one of the U.K.'s best-of the unappreciated. In fact, now that they are gone, we can all take a Stalinist view (borrowing a Mick Jones phrase there) of the recordings they made after You Can't Hide Your Love Forever, while Edwyn Collins fished about trying to reinvent himself as something of a white soul singer, even if his talent meant that you still got the occasional great throwback record like What Presence?! Interestingly, the demand for this collection can be felt: in interview after interview it has become clear what an inspiration this great Scottish group has proved to be the modern scene, starting with the Smiths and moving on to acts on labels like Creation Records. Six boos to the Polydor label for dropping them (causing their breakup) then releasing this, though. What craven jerks! [source]
Yeah, but I am not a fan of the crazy cover image.
I find it interesting that the label created by Orange Juice is called Holden Caulfield Universal. That's a very interesting name for a record label. This 12"single contains a long version of the titular track, plus Tongues Begin to Wag and Barbecue.
I never had a vinyl copy of this mini album, until I found a sealed 2013 repressing for about $5 or $6. It was a deal that was too good to resist. Why this band was not bigger, I have no idea.
Alas, this is not an original pressing. I never had a vinyl copy of this release until 2013 or 2014, when I found a new, sealed copy, for under $10. I snapped it up. It's good.
Obviously, there is a strong biblical and, possibly, misogynistic reference in this track:
"And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." (Genesis 2:23 - I had to look that up, as I am not a biblical scholar and I think religion is one of the worst human inventions).
The meaning is less clear in this Orange Juice track. From Discogs:
"Some copies of the 12" release included a 10" x 10" card photo of a band member. Different prints existed for all four band members - see images. There was only one print inserted per copy and it was assigned at random."
