Yaz / Yazoo--Need Clarifications

[Robbie]

I just came back from the Vault and saw that Yazoo was listed there. Recently, Yazoo/Alison Moyet were discussed, and it seems that Yazoo had to change their name to Yaz.

Now, here's what I need help with. About 20+years ago, a group called Yaz had an album called "Upstairs At Eric's". The only song I know very well from that album is "Telephone Call". I don't recall hearing a girl singing on that album, considering Alison was with the group called Yaz and their song "Situation".

I just don't get it.

[markydefad]

Yaz & Yazoo are the same group. They had to shorten their name for the U.S. cause a group in Texas(?) had that name copyrighted.

"Upstairs At Eric's" was the first LP they released in the U.S.; "Situation" was on it, also "Midnight", "Winter Kills" and more.

Oh, and, as I mentioned in that other post, Alison sounded a lot like a man, so therefore it was fairly easy to think there was no female in the group; unless you saw their photos or listened to all the cuts closely.

_________________
Make My Feet Wanna Dance!

Markydefad

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: markydefad on 2002-07-12 01:05 ]</font>

[california mike]

i think a couple of other yaz hits were "don't go" and "only you". to add to the confusion, when yaz was no more, vince clark, also formerly of depeche mode, started erasure with vocalist andy bell, who at times sounded similar to alison moyet.

[sirius]

Dear Friends!
After bein´ at DEPECHE MODE, Vince Clarke
left the group at 1981 and made a DUO called
YAZOO(in the U.S.called YAZ) with the great
ALISON MOYET. They had several hits with
"Don´t Go", "Only You", "Situation", "Nobodys
Diary", "Ode To Boy" and more...
After 2 Albums the Duo split.
There´s also a british female singer called
YAZZ from the AcidHouseEra at 1988, but she
has nothing to do with YAZOO...she had
massive DanceHits with "The Only Way Is Up"
and "Stand Up For Your Love Rights"...
Cosmic Love & Kisses From SIRIUS & DARKTUNES

[BrunoRepublic]

Early North American copies of "Upstairs At Eric's" list the group's name as Yazoo.

Also, the tracklistings on the North American vs. European releases are different for both of their LPs.

"Situation" has to go down as one of the most over-remixed tracks ever; they keep pulling this one out again every few years. Pretty impressive for a track that was originally a b-side, and wasn't included on the UK version until the CD release!

[Mixmachine]

IMO the best version of this song was a UK remix in a white sleeve(?)that came out like a year after the initial release, and you are right, I have both the YAZ and Yazoo LPs, I think one of my copy had the 'oo' portion pasted over.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Mixmachine on 2002-07-12 08:48 ]</font>

[BrunoRepublic]

Off the top of my head...

- Original version was the b-side to their first single, "Only You". There is a very short version on the 7", and a 12" version. This version is rather stripped down compared to all the other remixes.

- Francois Kevorkian's remixes, originally released only in North America: This is the "classic" version that most people are familiar with. There is a regular and dub mix, as well as 7" edits of both. The 12" sleeve was green and black with an almost "art deco" look to it. The 12" version is the one that appears on the North American version of the LP. It was added as a bonus track to the UK album when it was reissued on CD.

- A later remix that was the b-side to a limited edition 12" of "Nobody's Diary". I'm pretty sure this one only came out in Europe.

So right there, we have seven mixes just from the early 80s, if you count the edits.

Then, skip forward to 1990...

Mute reissues house-y mixes of "Situation" and "State Farm" (another b-side track that was on the US LP, but not the UK). The 12" and CD single have different tracklistings... this one gets released in both Europe and North America.

So, we're up to 10 or 11 (can't remember exactly).

And again, skip forward to the late 90s... Mute puts out a "best of" compilation titled "Only Yazoo" (this has a different title in North America, can't remember exactly what). Never mind the absurdity of doing a compilation from an act that only had two albums, this time they really open the floodgates. I think there's about another half-dozen remixes of "Situation" from the various CD singles and 12"s that this spawned. And this time, many of the remixes bear no resemblance to the original song.

We've got to be up to 15 or 16 now... and this does not include any unofficial remixes by DJ remix services, etc.

[BrunoRepublic]

About 20+years ago, a group called Yaz had an album called "Upstairs At Eric's". The only song I know very well from that album is "Telephone Call".

If it's really Yaz(oo) that you're thinking of, then the song is actually titled "Bad Connection". Has these lyrics:

I wish they'd fix the wires 'cause my baby don't know
That I'm leaving in the morning and I'm ready to go
Can you hear me
Can you hear me at all
Gotta get the operator,
make a telephone call

I don't recall hearing a girl singing on that album.

There is a synthy song called "Telephone Call" that is sung by a man... perhaps you're thinking of Kraftwerk's "Electric Cafe" album from '84.

This song has all sorts of samples of operator messages on it, and has the lyric:

I call you up from time to time
To hear your voice on the telephone line

(can't remember the rest of the tune)

[DJ Jimmy M]

"Telephone Call" is actually called "Bad Connection" on the Yaz LP and the lyrics are correct as stated in the first mention. Although not one of my fave tracks off the LP. A good track that should have been way more than 2:40 is "Goodbye Seventies". This would have been a great 12" mix extending it to say about 8 min at least, good eurodisco track but too damn short.

DJ Jimmy M

[Robbie]

DJ Jimmy M--

Thanks for the info. It was "Bad Connection" and not what I thought the title was; the last time I heard that song/album was about 10 years ago.

[Masdefi]

I've got both Yazoo and Yaz "Don't go" 12" singles (respectively UK from MUTE Records, and US from SIRE Records) they sound exactly same. :o

[Chris Pontius]

"to add to the confusion, when yaz was no more, vince clark, also formerly of depeche mode, started erasure with vocalist andy bell, who at times sounded similar to alison moyet."

Actually, after the break-up of Yazoo but before Vince formed Erasure, Vince formed The Assembly. He had Feargal Sharkey as the vocalist for their song "Never, Never" (An average track in my opinion).....As far as I know they only released that one song.

You might remember Feargal Sharkey, he had an 80's hit I don't care for much called "A Good Heart."

Also, Alison Moyet had one of her tracks remixed by Vince Clark, which would kind of make the song a Yazoo song I guess......It was called "Whispering Your Name." I can't recall the exact name of the remix itself, though.

[BrunoRepublic]

Originally Posted by Chris Pontius

He had Feargal Sharkey as the vocalist for their song "Never, Never" (An average track in my opinion).....As far as I know they only released that one song.

Correct. There was another single in between as well, credited to Vince Clarke and Paul Quinn.

Also, Alison Moyet had one of her tracks remixed by Vince Clark, which would kind of make the song a Yazoo song I guess......It was called "Whispering Your Name." I can't recall the exact name of the remix itself, though.

Simply "Vince Clarke remix". In North America, this only appeared on the 12" and not the CD single.

[Chris Pontius]

Yes, I acquired "Never, Never" on CD single (I believe a re-issue) which has the Clarke/Quinn song with it.

To be honest, I don't like either song. The one with Paul Quinn was an instrumental, wasn't it?

Did you ever listen to Robert Marlow? Marlow's material was produced by Vince around the same period of The Assembly (Correct me if I'm wrong)....Marlow was actually a pseudonym for a guy who knew Vince Clarke and a member or two of Depeche Mode.......They reissued the Robert Marlow material onto CD a few years ago, I don't think a full-length album was ever released back in the 80's. I didn't like the CD (Although people who are into the early Erasure/Assembly/Yazoo sound might), but I kept the CD since it's interesting to have. One of the rare CD's I've kept that I don't like.

[BrunoRepublic]

Originally Posted by Chris Pontius

Yes, I acquired "Never, Never" on CD single (I believe a re-issue)

Well, CD singles weren't around in 1983, so...

which has the Clarke/Quinn song with it.

Does it? Mine has "Stop/Start", which Vince did with Eric Radcliffe. It was the b-side of the original Assembly single.

To be honest, I don't like either song. The one with Paul Quinn was an instrumental, wasn't it?

Don't know; haven't heard it. All I know is that it was titled "One Day".