Duffy - Duffy (1995)

Stephen had trouble dealing with the apathy surrounding Music In Colors. EMI in the UK just gave up on it. He then entered what Chris calls the collaboration years. Initially Stephen hung out in Boston and then went to North Carolina to work with Velvet Crush for their upcoming CD "Teenage Symphonies To God". He stayed longer than planned and ended up co-writing a couple of tracks. Whilst with Velvet Crush he also cut three tracks for the next album "She Freak" (the original title of "Duffy" after the dull title "#ix"), Sugar High and The Vision of Bliss, which changed later to "A" rather than "The". Recording took place at Mitch Easter's Drive-in studio and that work can be seen in the "Duffy" EPK. Mitch playing guitar in a dress is a sight to behold.

The next few months ended up between Alaska, Providence, Rhode Island and Boston. Throwing in New York and Toronto for good measure. Stephen wrote in the ups and downs that he wanted the new album to be released in March 1994. The remaining tracks to be recorded at Audiodelic, the slow acoustic ones. The faster ones to be recorded in the states (they eventually went back to Mitch Easter's).

As usual things didn't work out as planned with mixing, negotiations and track changes taking over a whole year. The album originally had the ballad "In the Evening of her Day" on it and of course that was ditched to an unreleased b-side 3 years later.

July and August 1994 were spent supporting Velvet Crush in Japan and Stephen even found time to do 5 solo concerts. They were very intimate affairs with a short interview and playing 4 or 5 tracks. Mostly played to the devoted Japanese Stephen Duffy fan club.

Stephen recalls the making of "Duffy" as a "painful and emotional thing", he was determined not to make the same mistakes that he made with "Astronauts" though. He didn't give up like he did 5 years previously.

Videos were made for Sugar High and London Girls although not Needle Mythology and the first single was scheduled for June 5th 1995 with the album to follow in August after the second single.

Stephen formed a really good, tight band to take the album out onto the road and boy did they take it onto the road. From June to November they played everywhere from Sweden, Norway, France, Belgium, Germany, Denmark and Japan. They also turned up on many radio shows around the world, some of which are in our radio sessions section.

Essential listen: This album followed up the strong tradition of truly superb b-sides. Mostly because many of them were meant to be on the album (as usual). The UK re-issue and the Japanese issue are so close as to be difficult to choose between. Either will fill your heart with joy. The UK version edges it with the new Alaska period artwork.

Essential buy: A rare US release was the 7 inch "Starfit" backed by the Alex James b-side "Tempus Fugit" on the Summershine label. It rarely turns up on auction sites but should not cost more than £ 8 to £ 10.

Chris


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Artist/Composer Title Release Year Format Cat. Number Label Country Length Tracks
Duffy Duffy 1995 LP DUFF 003 Indolent United Kingdom 44:45 11
Duffy Duffy 1995 Cassette DUFF MC 003 Indolent United Kingdom 44:45 11
Duffy Duffy 1995 CD DUFF CD 003 Indolent United Kingdom 44:45 11
Duffy Duffy 1995 CD BVCP-864 BMG Japan Japan 49:00 12
Duffy Duffy 2000 CD BVCM 37111 BMG Japan Japan 76:00 19
Stephen Duffy Duffy 2005 CD 82876 745852 Bmg Int'l United Kingdom 70:51 17
Duffy London Girls 1995 7 inch DUFF 001 Indolent United Kingdom 11:54 3
Duffy/Wannadies London Girls/How Does It Feel? 1995 7 inch DOLE 012 Indolent United Kingdom 03:18 2
Duffy London Girls 1995 12 inch DOLE 7 Indolent United Kingdom 16:50 4
Duffy London Girls 1995 Cassette DUFF 001 MC Indolent United Kingdom 11:54 3
Duffy London Girls 1995 CD single DUFF 001 CD Indolent United Kingdom 16:50 4
Duffy London Girls 1995 CD single DUFF 001 CD Indolent The Netherlands 16:50 4
Duffy Sugar High 1995 7 inch DUFF 002 Indolent United Kingdom 12:00 3
Duffy Sugar High 1995 Cassette DUFF 002 MC Indolent United Kingdom 07:19 2
Duffy Sugar High 1995 CD single DUFF 002 CD Indolent United Kingdom 15:57 4
Duffy Needle Mythology 1995 7 inch DUFF 004 Indolent United Kingdom 07:54 2
Duffy Needle Mythology 1995 Cassette DUFF 004 MC Indolent United Kingdom 07:54 2
Duffy Needle Mythology 1995 CD single DUFF 004 CD Indolent United Kingdom 17:10 4
Duffy Starfit 1996 7 inch Shine-US11 Summershine USA 06:06 2
Duffy Starfit 1995 CD single DOLE 020 Indolent United Kingdom 06:37 2