It was June 2015 when Don’t Talk To Me About Love featured as part of the short series looking back at the singles released by Altered Images. There was initially a fair bit of confusion on that I had been really lazy in posting up what I described as the ‘Extended Version’ as being from the 12″ single when it had in fact been taken from the version made available on the reissued edition of the album, Bite.
The fact that the CD version came in at 7 mins in length, as opposed to the 3:49 version on the 7″ (not forgetting the just under 5 mins version on the album) was the reason I made the initial mistake, which was pointed out quite quickly in one of the first comments offered up that day. I did try and rectify things quickly but amid all the panic and confusion, I’m not really sure if I did.
So…. five years on, and while I still don’t have the world at my feet, I do have the opportunity to pull out the 12″ from the cupboard and do a fresh digital recording via the new turntable. The fact that the 12″ came in a completely differently designed sleeve from the 7″, albeit both were the work of the late and deservedly acclaimed David Band, should have clicked with my brain all those years ago.
mp3: Altered Images – Don’t Talk To Me About Love (12″ version)
That’s all 8 and a half minutes of it, complete with the little bits of wizardry deployed in the studio,
I air the 7″ version, without fail, at every Simply Thrilled night and it inevitably fills the floor, no matter how early it is. There was a tremendously succinct but memorable description of the song offered up by For Malcontents Only back in June 2015:-
“The Scottish Heart of Glass!”
Which provides the perfect excuse, and again re-recorded using the new turntable:-
mp3: Blondie – Heart of Glass (12″ version)
Now, if listening to these two songs doesn’t put a smile on your face and simultaneously gets your hips swaying, then you are an unwell person. My advice to you is…. seek professional help!!
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
Love ‘The Scottish heart of glass’. Inevitably there is some snobbery towards altered images and through the years I have signposted some of their tracks (which aren’t the obvious like Happy Birthday) and mates have realised what a great band they are. Gutted that my tickets to see them in Reading haven’t been able to see fruition but they are supporting the human league next December so hopefully they will play this then.
‘The Scottish Heart of Glass’ is indeed a fine summary
of a super song.
Early Altered Images were obvious Banshees wannabes and I was put off their later poppy stuff by John Peel’s somewhat creepy attitude towards Clare and the band (their Song Sung Blue cover was a particular nadir). Don’t Talk To Me and See Those Eyes were pretty undeniably excellent though and this 12″ is familiarly scratchy at the start. How did you get hold of my copy?
(Believe Billy Mackenzie provided the actual Scottish Heart of Glass).