The "What Time Is Love?" Story
| The "What Time Is Love?" Story | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 25 September 1989 | |||
| Recorded | 1988–1989 | |||
| Studio | Trancentral | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 39:23 | |||
| Label | KLF Communications | |||
| Producer | The KLF | |||
| The KLF chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| New Musical Express | 8/10[1] |
| Q |   [2] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 5/10[3] |
The "What Time Is Love?" Story is a compilation album by British electronic music duo The KLF, comprising six versions of their techno track "What Time Is Love?".[4]
Origin[edit]
By 1989 (see 1989 in music), the popularity of the "Pure Trance Original" of "What Time Is Love?" in European clubs had reportedly spawned eighteen unauthorised cover versions and sound-alikes.[5] In a novel move, some of these were collated by The Orb's Alex Paterson at The KLF's behest, and released as a compilation album entitled The "What Time Is Love?" Story, which was sold commercially for half the price of a conventional album.
Released on 25 September 1989 on LP and CD, The "What Time Is Love?" Story used the same basic design lay-out as the "Pure Trance Original" singles, but the colour scheme was altered: lurid pink writing on lurid green (for the vinyl), and lurid green on lurid pink (for the CD).
Authorship[edit]
Many commentators have speculated that all of these 'covers' were in fact the work of The KLF themselves. Q magazine, for example, commented that "one wonders why all the vocalists sound so alike (and British, even when praising Allah)" and asked of their readers "wouldn't it be a good scam if you released 18 differing versions scattered across Europe?".[2] However, of the artists featuring on the LP, all possess an independent discography: Liaisons D, a collective that includes techno producer Frank De Wulf, has an extensive discography;[6] Neon is Belgian producer Jean Pierre Bulté of Target Records;[7] Dr. Felix is a pseudonym of Italian producer Claudio Donato.[8] And finally, K.L.F.S., albeit being a one-off shoot, was actually the brainchild of two Italian Hi-NRG producers M. Parmigiani and Marcello Catalano.[9]
The album also includes a live version of "What Time Is Love?", performed at the "Land Of Oz", the chill-out room of the London nightclub Heaven, where Paterson regularly DJed alongside The KLF co-founder Jimmy Cauty. The track was recorded on 31 July 1989, one week after a single release of further "What Time Is Love?" remixes. The date also marked the release of The KLF's pop single "Kylie Said to Jason".
Track listing[edit]
- The KLF — "What Time Is Love?" (Original) – 7:05
- Dr. Felix — "Relax Your Body" – 6:32
- K.L.F.S. — "What Time Is Love?" (Italian Mix) – 6:10
- Liaisons D. — "Heartbeat" – 5:55
- Neon — "No Limit" (Dance Mix 4'58) – 4:58
- The KLF — "What Time Is Love?" (Live at the Land of Oz) – 8:43
Notes[edit]
- ^ Mead, Helen (21 October 1989). "Long Play: The KLF — What Time Is Love? (KLF Communications)". New Musical Express. London: IPC Limited. p. 39. ISSN 0028-6362. Retrieved 5 June 2023 – via Flickr.
- ^ a b Cranna, Ian (October 1989). "The "What Time Is Love?" Story". Q (Review). Archived (via the Library of Mu) on 16 September 2016.
- ^ Strauss, Neil (1995). "KLF". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 213–214. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
- ^ Robbins, Ira. "KLF". Trouser Press.
- ^ Cauty, Cressida (August 1989). "KLF Info Sheet 6". KLF Communications. Archived (via the Library of Mu) on 16 September 2016.
- ^ "Liaisons D Discography", Discogs (link). Retrieved 6 April 2006.
- ^ "Jean Pierre Bulté Discography", Discogs (link). Retrieved 6 April 2006.
- ^ "Claudio Donato Discography", Discogs (link). Retrieved 6 April 2006.
- ^ "K.L.F.S. Discography", Discogs (link). Retrieved 25 May 2007.
References[edit]
- Discogs.com, KLF Communications discography
- Longmire, Ernie; et al. (2020) [1998]. "Discography: The KLF (including The JAMS, The Timelords, 2K etc.)". Archived from the original on 29 February 2020.
- Author unknown (1991). "The KLF: Enigmatic dance duo" (feature and discography up to that time), Record Collector Magazine, April 1991.
