Soho - Hippychick (1990)

CD single

Years ago, after hearing Kiss Them For Me by Siouxsie & the Banshees on the satellite radio, I wished for a mashup of that song and the classic tune by The Smiths, How Soon Is Now? That mashup doesn't exist - that I can easily find, anyway - so this single is about as close as you can get. In fact, if someone wants to mashup all three tunes, I'm here for it.

As for this single, what a catchy, danceable protest tune! It samples straight up steals* Johnny Marr's epic tremolo guitar riff from How Soon Is Now? and rides that groove for 4 or 5 minutes. Must have driven Smiths fans crazy in '90 when the sampled drums kicked in and they realized it wasn't How Soon Is Now. I suspect the groove's backing tracks were lifted from Soul II Soul, but in the late '80s/early '90s, the copyright laws hadn't yet caught up the the emerging technology.

Singles chart peaks:

• US Billboard Hot 100: #14
• Billboard Dance: #2
• Billboard Modern Rock: #11

Tracks: this "CD5 Maxi Single" contains 5 mixes of Hippychick, but oddly doesn't include the 3:14 single mix that I remember hearing on KRBE.

1. Extended Vocal (4:31)
2. No Acid Ted Mix (5:07)
3. Never Trust A Hippy Mix (4:44)
4. Happiness Is A Warm Hippy Mix (4:26)
5. Dub Plate Instrumental (5:14)

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

*Marr doesn't even get a writing credit but Wikipedia claims that Soho had permission to use the sample. This guy tells a different story. Neither cites sources so take 'em for what they're worth.