electronic :: singles :: get the message

uk 7" (fac287/7), 12" 1 (fac287), cd (facd287) and cassette (fac287c) released by factory on 15 april 1991. uk 12" 2 (fac287r) released by factory on 29 april 1991. us 12" (9 21832-0), cd in digipak (9 21832-2), cassette 1 (9 19465-4) and cassette 2 (9 21832-4) released by warner bros on 16 april 1991. fr 7" (95024) and cassette (55024) and de 7" (113 849), 12" 1 (613 849-213), 12" 2 (614 028) and cd (663 849-211) released by virgin. au 7" (543919465-7), 12" (759921832-0), cd (7599218322) and cassette (543919465-4) released by warner bros. early copies of the uk and de 7" and cd singles featured an alternative mix of get the message.

get the message
free will

get the message uk 7-inch.

get the message
free will

get the message uk 12-inch 1.

get the message 7"
free will 12"
get the message 12"

get the message uk cd.

get the message
free will

get the message uk cassette.

both tracks play on either side.

get the message dna groove mix
get the message dna sin mix

get the message uk 12-inch 2.

subtitled dna remixes.

get the message extended mix
free will extended mix
get the message dna groove mix
get the message dna sin mix

get the message us 12-inch. get the message us cassette 2.

get the message single mix
get the message extended mix
free will extended mix
get the message dna groove mix
get the message dna sin mix

get the message us cd maxi.

get the message (7" version)
free will (7" mix)

get the message de 7-inch.

get the message 12" mix
get the message 7" mix
free will 12" mix

get the message de 12-inch 1.

get the message 7"
get the message 12"
free will 7"
free will 12"
get the message dna 12" groove mix
get the message dna 12" sin mix

get the message de cd.

uk jukebox 7" (fac287/7), white label 7" in generic sleeve, some with the first single mix (fac287/7), remix 7" in generic sleeve (fac287r/7), white label 12" 1 (fac287) and white label 12" 2 in generic sleeve with press sheet (fac287r) released by factory records. us five-track cd (pro-cd-4678) and cassette 2 released by warner bros. de 7" with press sheet, some with the first single mix (113 849) released by virgin. mx double-sided one-track 7" in generic sleeve, titled capta el mensaje (pro 546) released by warner bros.

get the message uk promo remix 7-inch. get the message us promo cd maxi. get the message promo 12-inch insert.

fac287r/7, us cd and fac287r insert.

nme, 20 april 1991
melody maker, 21 december 1991

uk #8
modern rock tracks #1
hot dance music #15
hot dance club play #8
de #37

get the message promotional poster.

promotional poster.

get the message: vocals and synthesisers by bernard sumner. guitars, keyboards and programming by johnny marr. thanks to denise johnson—vocals. free will: vocals, synthesisers and programming by bernard sumner. guitars and synthesisers by johnny marr. additional programming by andrew robinson. produced by bernard sumner and johnny marr. engineered by owen morris. recorded and mixed at clear recordings. remixes and additional production by dna for raw bass. artwork by johnson/panas. remix 12" packaged at 3a.

the 7" mix on this quintessential electronic single could almost be an early version rather than an exclusive remix, as it’s very similar to the renditions at dodger stadium in 1990. with an acoustic introduction, an extended instrumental passage, and the final verse (‘living on peanuts ain’t my scene’) spliced in after the second chorus, it contrasts greatly with the straight-ahead edit of the album version, which was used for the promotional film, some copies of the uk and german 7" and cd releases, and a mimed performance on top of the pops.

one of these versions was disapproved by bernard sumner after he heard it on a manchester radio station before its release, so another mix was made, causing the single to be delayed by several weeks. it seems that the album edit was his preferred choice as it featured on later pressings of the single and was used for the 2006 best of. either way the lp version remains the definitive recording, wisely included on the various cds and the first uk 12", but augmented by free will and a superior dna remix it’s a fantastic record whatever the format.