I Called U or Blackout

Music
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I bought I Called U the week (possibly the day) that it came out on UK release.
I Called U really wasn’t my thing and Blackout on the B-Side was my chosen track.
Blackout was also the chosen track in the local bars/clubs (we had a couple of places playing decent music towards the end of 89).
I don’t remember any of my friends going on about , or the local DJs playing I Called U back in 89.
I Called U as the A-side was a bit of a crazy move from FFRR, I’m guessing most folks were really into Blackout which wasn’t a million miles in style from French Kiss.

Over the years I Called U ended out being one of my favourite tracks ever, it still fascinates me when I listen to it now and in fact I bought it again a few years ago as my original copy has developed a couple of annoyingly loud clicks and pops.

Guys, did I Called U get club play in the places you were going at the time?
Did anyone favour I Called U over Blackout at the time?

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Imagine I Called U was seen as one of the tracks that had more commercial potential.

Cant help re club play as I was 10 years old at the time :smile:

Seeing a segment on the news one night of “the evils of acid house” (probably) with a clip of a rave and French Kiss banging out in the backround is one of my earliest dance music memories. I thought it looked awesome and was definitely something that fuelled me wanting to DJ.

Drunkely relayed this story to Lil Louis when i cornered him at Suncebeat in Croatia one night He seemed to appreciate it and humoured me at least.

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I guess that’s what the record label folks were thinking and that might have been right but personally I feel its a proper oddball track with little commercial appeal, that said I don’t think Blackout had commercial appeal either but thought it would be the better choice to piggyback the French Kiss success.

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I love I Called U, also bought when it came out and still play to this day. It was in my bag for Rotation but I didn’t play it.

I don’t remember it being played out at the time, or Blackout. French Kiss was obviously ubiquitous 1989/90.

Edit: I remember hearing French Kiss at the Warehouse in Leeds and being absolutely blown away by it. 17 years old. Holy smoke this was 35 years ago.

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Eddie Richards definitely dropped Blackout at Outer Limits at least once when I was there!

I’m not helping much :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye::melting_face:

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I don’t remember I Called U but Blackout was a big record at Lost which we went to religiously for quite a long time

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I remember hearing the ‘Why D’U Fall’
mix out quite a lot. Not so much the main mix. That seemed less dancey to me.

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I called you is definitely a much more subtle / interesting record for discussing 35 years after it came out
Blackout must have sounded immense on a good system

I was in Sheffield & then Nottingham so not purist enough for Winston & Parrott & too harsh for Venus crew

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At the time, I remember the club I worked at (as non-alcoholic bartender, not DJ), they played I Called U a bit. But never gained the traction that French Kiss had. Although, when they played French Kiss, it was an odd Belgian cover version. No Blackout at all.

I recently played the Blackout edit on that Street Knowledge label (either Ashley B or JBO vaguely affiliated label) at the start of a set this summer, when I needed a cold start.

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https://www.discogs.com/release/76716-Lil-Louis-The-World-I-Called-U

This is greatI love Blackout but Why d’ fall is absolutely mental. This ep also contains the conversation which is/was a Derrick May staple. Classic 12 inch

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I remember hearing I Called U on Radio 1. Just checked and it reached no.16 in the UK charts
I CALLED YOU – LIL’ LOUIS AND THE WORLD | Official Charts

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Anyone know if that Lil Louis set at the Corsica Studios got recorded? Around 2009/10? Was soooo good

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That was an amazing night! Remember him playing The Supremes at some point. Would love to hear a recording