"Dancin' Master" - Various Artists
Compilation Album
U2 Related Content:
Full Track Listing:
- Funkin’ for Jamaica – Tom Browne
- I Wanna Be With You – Linx
- Feel Up – Grace Jones
- Cities – Talking Heads
- Big Sister – Elvis Costello and the Attractions
- Laughing On – Beggar & Co.
- That’s the Joint – Funky 4 + 1
- Inbetweenies – Ian Dury and the Blockheads
- There But for the Grace of God Go I – Kid Creole and the Cocunuts
- Stompin at the Corona – The Lounge Lizards
- Rockabilly Guy (Dub) – The Polecats
- Zion Bound – Lloyd Coxone
- Shadow on the House – Madness
- Hit It! – The Beat
- The Birthday Party – Grandmaster Flash
- Mama Used to Say – Junior Giscome
- Give Me Back My Man (Instrumental) – The B-52s
- 24,000 Kiss – Susan
- When You’re Young – The Jam
- Better – Dennis Bovell
- Last Train to Clarksville – The Plastics
- Contort Yourself – James White and the Blacks
- Traison (C’est juste une Histoire) – The Teardrop Explodes
- An Cat Dubh / Into the Heart (Live from Boston March 6, 1981) (7:20) – U2
Background Information
In 1981, NME put together the first of a line of cassette releases through the magazine. They had previously released a cassette in conjunction with Rough Trade, but “Dancin’ Master” would be the first of a line of cassettes offered solely by the magazine. The catalog number given this cassette was NME 001, and other later releases would follow in sequence. NME is a music magazine, and at the time was published every Thursday for a price of 30p. The first issue in October was released with an offer within the magazine. A voucher was printed in the magazine which could be sent in for a copy of the cassette. The cassette was free with the voucher.
There was an “owner’s guide” to the cassette printed in the magazine. It was printed on newsprint, and had to be cut out of the magazine in 8 pieces, each of which would fold in half, and put together would create a 32 page booklet with a cover that matched the front of the cassette. The booklet held additional information about the cassette as well as pictures of all of the artists found on the album. The cassette itself was issued in a hard shell case, with a insert. The cassette was black plastic with stickered labels on each side.
U2’s contribution to the album was “An Cat Dubh” according to the insert in the magazine, but it was actually both “An Cat Dubh” and “Into the Heart” following one another seamlessly as they did in concert. The liner notes for the cassette do not distinguish this second song, and only lists a total track time of 7:20. The version of “An Cat Dubh / Into the Heart” was recorded in Boston MA at a 1981 concert.
This was one of the earliest compilation albums which featured a U2 track, and the first outside of Ireland.
Liner Notes
Cassette Liner Notes:
U2 – An Cat Dubh (7:20) (U2) Produced: U2. Published: Blue Mountain Music.
The Dancin’ Master cassette was assembled by New Musical Express, in Autumn 1981.
From the Magazine:
U2: An Cat Dubh: Bono Vox’s Celtic Crusaders bedazzle Bean Town USA. In other words, U2 live in Boston.
The NME Dancin’ Master cassette was duplicated by ABLEX. The tape was mastered by Michael Talt.