By
Rob Jones
Linx were as good as it gets when it came to a UK equivalent of US groove gurus Chic. That is high praise indeed and it is not that the Brit-funkers were plagiarists of their stateside soul cousins but it is due to the fact that the quality on offer from both parties were at the peak of pop when it came to both the charts and the dance floors at a time of much competition.
The lustre of Linx is now available in one essential package, and at a time where I was crossing back and forth between post punk and disco delights the 80’s were at the prime of their pop powers when it came to both genres. The angular edge of the alternative prompted my listening but the bass rhythm riding high with that melody and momentum provided another escape. Sketch of Linx with his four string force ended up swapping between the houses of the commercial and peripheral but on this set he is bang on in every shape and form. Add that to the velvet vocals of David Grant and the musical momentum of the surrounding crew and this is accomplished aural enterprise – whatever approach is your bag.
So, here you go, sample the goods and go back and move forward!
This is what you get, so cherish this 2022 treat now!
The ultimate 4CD collection of influential ‘80s Brit soul funk band Linx in a clamshell box
• Featuring the band’s two studio albums, ‘Intuition’ and ‘Go Ahead’ for Chrysalis Records, plus a comprehensive collection of all the related bonus material from the period.
• Sourced from the Chrysalis tape archives, utilising the original production masters.
CD1 features the original ten album tracks from the band’s debut album, ‘Intuition’ and even bonus tracks, including the UK and US 7” versions of ‘You’re Lying’, the 7” versions of ‘Intuition’ and ‘Throw Away The Key’ plus the B-sides ‘The Ice Is Melting’ and ‘Together We Can Shine’.
CD2 is centred around the band’s second album ‘Go Ahead’ with the nine original album tracks accompanied by seven bonus tracks. These include the single versions of ‘So This Is Romance’, ‘Plaything’ and ‘Don’t Hit Me With Love’, plus the Rio Mix of ‘So This Is Romance’ to compliment the selection.
CD3 is crammed full of the 12” mixes of their much-loved singles, ‘You’re Lying’, ‘Rise And Shine’, ‘Intuition’, ‘Together We Can Shine’, ‘Throw Away The Key’, ‘Plaything’, ‘Can’t Help Myself’ and ‘Don’t Hit Me With Love’, plus the US 12” versions of ‘Together We Can Shine’ and ‘Throw Away The Key’.
CD4 includes 16 tracks of remixes and rarities sourced from the archives and mostly appearing on CD for the first time. Tracks include three versions of ‘Look Up And Smile’, and four mixes of ‘You’re Lying’, two US mixes of ‘Wonder What You’re Doing Now’.
The CD booklet features extensive sleeve notes by respected music journalist and friend of the band, Pete Paphides, plus a UK discography.
This is the definitive collection of the band’s output and celebrates their lasting legacy 40 years on. The band enjoyed three UK Top 20 singles and one Top 10 hit with the infectious ‘Intuition’ when they arrived on the scene in 1980/81. ‘Intuition’ was also Top 10 album.
Track Listing:
CD 1: INTUITION + BONUS TRACKS
1/ WONDER WHAT YOU’RE DOING NOW
2/ I WON’T FORGET
3/ INTUITION
4/ THERE’S LOVE
5/ RISE AND SHINE
6/ THROW AWAY THE KEY
7/ TOGETHER WE CAN SHINE
8/ COUNT ON ME
9/ YOU’RE LYING
10/ DON’T GET IN MY WAY
11/ YOU’RE LYING (7” VERSION) (BONUS TRACK)
12/ YOU’RE LYING (U.S. 7” VERSION) (BONUS TRACK) *
13/ INTUITION (7” VERSION) (BONUS TRACK)
14/ TOGETHER WE CAN SHINE (B-SIDE VERSION) (BONUS TRACK) *
15/ THROW AWAY THE KEY (7” VERSION) (BONUS TRACK)
16/ THE ICE IS MELTING (SHORT VERSION) (BONUS TRACK)
17/ THROW AWAY THE KEY (U.S. ALBUM VERSION) (BONUS TRACK) *
CD 2: GO AHEAD + BONUS TRACKS
1/ SO THIS IS ROMANCE
2/ I DON’T WANT TO LEARN
3/ I WANNA BE WITH YOU
4/ URBAN REFUGEE
5/ I WON’T PLAY THE GAME
6/ CAN’T HELP MYSELF
7/ ALL MY YESTERDAYS
8/ KNOW WHAT IT IS TO BE LONELY
9/ TINSEL TOWN (YOU DON’T FOOL ME)
10/ SO THIS IS ROMANCE (SINGLE VERSION) (BONUS TRACK)
11/ SO THIS IS ROMANCE (THE RIO MIX) (BONUS TRACK)
12/ PLAYTHING (SINGLE VERSION) (BONUS TRACK)
13/ I WON’T PLAY THE GAME (REMIX) (BONUS TRACK)
14/ DON’T HIT ME WITH LOVE (SINGLE VERSION) (BONUS TRACK) *
15/ IT’S MY LIFE (SHORT VERSION) (BONUS TRACK)
16/ CAN’T HELP MYSELF (REMIX) (BONUS TRACK)
CD 3: THE 12” MIXES
1/ YOU’RE LYING (12” VERSION)
2/ YOU’RE LYING (INSTRUMENTAL) (THE RE-MIX) *
3/ RISE AND SHINE (12” VERSION) *
4/ INTUITION (12” MIX)
5/ TOGETHER WE CAN SHINE (12” VERSION) *
6/ TOGETHER WE CAN SHINE (U.S. 12” VERSION)
7/ THROW AWAY THE KEY (U.S. 12” VERSION)
8/ CAN’T HELP MYSELF (OUT FRONT MIX)
9/ PLAYTHING (EXTENDED VERSION)
10/ DON’T HIT ME WITH LOVE (EXTENDED VERSION)
11/ I’M NOT JOKING (LONG VERSION)
12/ IT’S MY LIFE (EXTENDED VERSION)
13/ I WON’T FORGET (INSTRUMENTAL) *
14/ LOVE WILL FIND A WAY (ORIGINAL 1982 VERSION) *
CD 4: REMIXES AND RARITIES
1/ THE ICE IS MELTING (LONG VERSION) *
2/ YOU’RE LYING (DISCO INSTRUMENTAL) *
3/ YOU’RE LYING (7” B-SIDE INSTRUMENTAL) *
4/ LOOK UP AND SMILE (ALTERNATIVE VERSION) *
5/ LOVE WILL FIND A WAY (ORIGINAL 1982 VERSION) *
6/ LOVE WAS NOT ENOUGH *
7/ WE’RE HERE *
8/ GOOD GIRLS *
9/ THROW AWAY THE KEY (UNEDITED U.S. VERSION) *
10/ WONDER WHAT YOU’RE DOING NOW (AMERICAN REMIX)
11/ YOU’RE LYING (RE-MIX) (AKA U.S. REMIX)
12/ WONDER WHAT YOU’RE DOING NOW (UNEDITED U.S. REMIX) *
13/ LOOK UP AND SMILE (7” VERSION) *
14/ LOOK UP AND SMILE (12” VERSION) *
15/ I FOUND IT IN YOU *
* denotes appearing on CD for the first time
