Chumbawamba – I Never Gave Up (12``, 1992)

Formed in a squat in Leeds, England, in 1982, Chumbawamba released their first single, "Revolution", in 1985. Up to a point they self-released most of their material on labels they ran themselves, such as Sky & Trees and Agit Prop. Their musical style has changed through the years, initially a shouting punk band, later recording some folk songs, then, with the "Jesus H Christ" album, they discovered electronic music.

One of their best-ever songs (from Slap!) in two pretty great remixes, followed by a remix of another great song (the title track from Shhh, here retitled "Laughing"). The first "I Never Gave Up" remix feels more like a single edit (though it only reduces the seven minute original to six minutes) than a particularly exciting remix, while the second is clubby without being anonymous (making excellent use of the original's imitation funk wah-wah guitar). "Laughing" is a relatively brief, bass-heavy but still breezy bit of pop that turns "Shhh" into an utterly different, and possibly better-than-it-was, song. Very nice.

Tracklist:

A I Never Gave Up (Rondo Mix)
B1 I Never Gave Up (Cass Mix)
B2 Laughing (Never Stopped Mix)

Chumbawamba – I Never Gave Up (12``, 1992)

(192 kbps, cover art included)