Chime (song)

"Chime"
Single by Orbital
Released 12 March 1990
Format 7", 12"
Recorded 1989
Genre Techno, electronica
Length 3:14 (edit)
12:40 (12" version)
Label FFRR
Writer(s) P&P Hartnoll
Producer(s) P&P Hartnoll
Orbital singles chronology
"Chime"
(1990)		 "Omen"
(1990)

"Chime" was the first single from the British dance group Orbital,

It was originally recorded on a cassette deck and allegedly cost less than £1 to produce. The track was originally released in December 1989 and was a big underground success. In 1990, it had a wider release on FFRR Records, and reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart.[1]

The track has been referred to as the British equivalent to Derrick May's seminal classic "Strings of Life" [2] and was included in Mixmag magazine's 100 Greatest Dance Singles of All Time. [3]

Creation

According to Paul Hartnoll, the track was recorded in Orbital's "under the stairs" home studio - "a knocked-through stair cupboard that my dad set up as a home office" in Sevenoaks, Kent. Key amongst the band's equipment at this time was their Roland TB-303 synthesiser which had been acquired for £100 from a northern working men's club keyboard player who was living in London.[4]

Paul stated that he recorded "Chime" in the home studio before he went down to the pub. He played the tune on cassette to pirate DJ Jazzy M at his record store in London. The DJ loved the track but insisted that it be extended for another couple of minutes. The tape recorder they recorded the track onto was too fast, meaning a slower song on faster devices. The track ended being 12 mins 40 after largely reprising the first half and improvising with the drum machine and TB-303 synth.[5] On the B-side of the record was the track "Deeper"

The original pressing, the first on Jazzy M's Oh-Zone records, of 1,000 records sold out quickly. Record labels clamoured to give "Chime" a full release and in the end they went with Pete Tong's FFRR record label. An edited version was produced and created in a more professional studio. It was downsized using fewer elements from the original 12 inch version. (3 mins 14).[5]

Top of the Pops

The track made the Top 40 of the British Charts and Orbital made their first TV appearance performing live on BBC TV's Top of the Pops show in March 1990. They appeared wearing Anti-Poll Tax T-shirts. The brother's wanted to play live but the shows producers stated that they had to mime. The band were embarrassed about having to do so and thought that the dancer, that they were provided with, was also bored. They stood around on stage and did not even pretend to mime. The show's production staff did not invite Orbital back on for another six years.[6] After the appearance the tune went six places up the chart to number 17.

It was not their highest-charting song; four other Orbital songs have reached higher positions, but it was the song that brought them into fame.

Orbital live set

"Chime" is still regularly played live by the band. This usually as a medley of the both the original and "Chime Crime"(Mutation Mix) arrangements. The band often use it to end the set.[7]


Versions of Chime

There are numerous versions and remixes of Chime. Orbital themselves have done several. The latest version, by Orbital, called "Christmas Chime" was released on December 16, 2013.[4] Here below is a list of them [8]

Track listing

Oh Zone Records - December 1989

12" vinyl record

  1. "Chime" (12:42)
  2. "Deeper" (15:33)

FFRR - March 1990

12" vinyl record

  1. "Chime" (12:38)
  2. "Deeper"(Edit) (6:55)

12" vinyl record (The Remixes)

  1. "Chime" (JZJ Bacardi Remix) (6:23)
  2. "Chime" (JZJ Oh Ya Mix) (6:28)

7" vinyl record

A. "Chime" (Edit) (3:15)
B. "Deeper" (Edit) (4:05)

CD single

  1. "Chime" (Edit) (3:15)
  2. "Chime" (12 inch version) (12:40)
  3. "Deeper" (Edit) (4:06)

Cassette Single

  1. "Chime" (Edit) (3.15)
  2. "Deeper" (Edit) (4.05)

References

  1. ↑ Roberts, David (Ed.) (2004). British Hit Singles & Albums (17th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN 0-85112-199-3.
  2. ↑ Reynolds, Simon (1999) "Generation Ectasy: Into the World of Techno and Rave Culture" Routledge, page 119
  3. ↑ Orbital-Chime Mixmag Review SongTwo
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Stuart Aitken (16 December 2013). "Mistletoe and Chime: the story of Orbital's acid house". guardian.co.uk.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Richard Buskin (December 2006). "Classic Tracks: ORBITAL 'Chime' - Producers: Paul & Phil Hartnoll • Engineers: Tim Hunt, Orbital". http://www.soundonsound.com''.
  6. ↑ Simon (June 6, 2011). "Yes It's Number One - The Alternative TOTP Canon #11: Orbital - Chime". http://yesitsnumberone.blogspot.co.uk''.
  7. ↑ Wonky puts Orbital back in the loop - Ravetalk
  8. ↑ "Orbital - Chime search discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
  9. ↑ Section - LOOPZ Online Orbital Discography
  10. ↑ Lo Recordings Mike Flowers 1999/Chime Mixes
  11. ↑ Orbital Vs Knuckleheadz - Discog.com

External links