The "What Time Is Love?" Story

Infobox Album |
Name = The "What Time Is Love?"
Type = Compilation album
Artist = The KLF


Released = 25 September 1989
Recorded = Trancentral
Genre = Electronica
Length = 39:23
Label = KLF Communications
Producer = The KLF
Reviews =
* "Q" magazine Rating|3|5 [http://www.libraryofmu.org/display-resource.php?id=485 (link)]
Last album = "Shag Times"
(1989)
This album = "The "What Time Is Love?" Story"
(1989)
Next album = "Chill Out"
(1990)

"The "What Time Is Love?" Story" is a compilation album by British electronic music duo The KLF, comprising six versions of their acid house track "What Time Is Love?".

Origin

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 [Cauty, C. "KLF Info Sheet 6", 1991, KLF Communications ( [http://www.libraryofmu.org/display-resource.php?id=506 link] )] . 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

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?" [Cranna, I., "The 'What Time Is Love' Story" (review), October (?) 1989, "Q" Magazine ( [http://www.libraryofmu.org/display-resource.php?id=485 link] )] . 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; ["Liaisons D Discography", Discogs ( [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Liaisons+D link] ). Retrieved 6 April 2006.] Neon is Belgian producer Jean Pierre Bulté of Target Records; ["Jean Pierre Bulté Discography", Discogs ( [http://www.discogs.com/artist/J.P.+Bult%C3%A9 link] ). Retrieved 6 April 2006.] Dr. Felix is a pseudonym of Italian producer Claudio Donato. ["Claudio Donato Discography", Discogs ( [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Claudio+Donato link] ). Retrieved 6 April 2006.] 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. ["K.L.F.S. Discography", Discogs ( [http://www.discogs.com/artist/K.L.F.S. link] ). Retrieved 25 May 2007.]

The album also includes a live version of "What Time Is Love?", performed at the "Land Of Oz", the chill-out room of Paul Oakenfold's London nightclub, Heaven, where Paterson regularly DJ-ed 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

# 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

References

* [http://www.libraryofmu.org/index.php Library of Mu press archive] - a library of KLF-related press clippings
*Discogs.com, [http://www.discogs.com/label/KLF+Communications KLF Communications discography]
*Longmire, Ernie et al (2005). [http://www.klf.de/discography/ KLF discography] [Compiled by Ernie Longmire, this has been the authoritative KLF discography on the internet for some 10 years or more and has been the subject of long-term scrutiny and peer review by KLF fans and collectors. It is now maintained by the fan site klf.de.]
*Author unknown (1991). "The KLF: Enigmatic dance duo" (feature and discography up to that time), "Record Collector" Magazine, April 1991.