Goldmine - hitBACK records (Spearmint)

hitBACK
hitBACK records is not as such a record company, but more like a vehicle for putting out Spearmint records. The name hitBACK came from the Fall's then current single, which was called "Hit The North". The response was to create the name "The North Hits Back", but this was then shortened to the hitBACK we all know and love. hitBACK's first record came out way back in 1987. This first record was a compilation including the now infamous Laverne and Shirlie, and also Said Liquidator, as mentioned in the lyrics to Sweeping The Nation. Since then hitBACK has put out a number of 7" and CD releases, in the hope that one day the world will wake up a make Spearmint rich with a big record deal.

Those hitBACK records in full :

hitBACK1: Front of hitBACK1 Various Artists - 45 RPM 7"EP. Way back in 1987 Shirley from Spearmint got some grant from Newcastle City Council & the Northern Arts Board to put out a record. Features four Newcastle bands from 1987: Movietone, Skiptracers, Said Liquidator, and Laverne and Shirlie. Now deleted.

hitBACK2: Spearmint - Somebody b/w I Can't Sleep 7". Somebody featured an uncleared sample (from quite a famous band (!)) which meant the commercial potential for this record was non-existent. I Can't Sleep was an early version of the future song on hitBACK 5. Deleted.

hitBACK3: Spearmint - Goldmine b/w At This Moment 7". Deleted.

hitBACK4: Back Of hitBACK1 Spearmint - A Week Away b/w Scared Of Everything 7". Deleted, but easy to find for some reason...details below.

hitBACK5: Spearmint - I Can't Sleep b/w Song For The Colour Yellow 7"
hitBACK5CD: Spearmint - I Can't Sleep b/w Song For The Colour Yellow, The Other Seven and Do You Remember Me. Deleted again but easy to find...see below.

hitBACK6: Spearmint - Sweeping The Nation b/w Best Friends 7"
hitBACK6CD: Spearmint - Sweeping The Nation b/w Best Friends, Slips Away and When I Get Out Of Here. Deleted and quite difficult to get hold of unfortunately.

hitBACK7: hitBACK2 Spearmint - A Trip Into Space b/w This Is Green This Is Grey 7"
hitBACK7CD: Spearmint - A Trip Into Space b/w This Is Green This Is Grey, A Bench In A Park and Bee Gee. This is deleted but the band have stock left in their cupboards, so go to the Feedback page for the address to write to.

hitBACK8CD: Spearmint - Songs For The Colour Yellow CD. Brings together most of the singles and B-sides above. In the shops, available...hooray! If you can't find it write to the band at the address on the Feedback page and they can sort you out with a copy.

hitBACK9: It Won't Be Long Now / Hair b/w Vince's Holiday Tape / You Must Go. 7"
hitBACK9CD: It Won't Be Long Now b/w Vince's Holiday Tape, You Must Go & Hair. CD.

hitBACK10: Sweeping The Nation b/w Meet Mr Marsden / Bad Souvenirs
hitBACK10CD: Sweeping The Nation b/w Meet Mr Marsden / Bad Souvenirs

hitBACK11: A Week Away (UK Vinyl): A Week Away / Isn't It Great To Be Alive / Sweeping The Nation / A Third Of My Life / We're Going Out / Start Again / Best Ballroom / You Carry This With You / A Trip Into Space / It Won't Be Long Now / Making You Laugh / You Are Still My Brother / Saturday.
hitBACK11CD: CD version of UK release.

Getting hold of the records...

The most recent releases are the easiest to get hold of, as you would expect. If you can't find any in the shops then you can write to the band for "A Trip Into Space", "Songs For The Colour Yellow", "It Won't Be Long Now" and "Sweeping The Nation" (re-issue), and "A Week Away" (album). You can also try the links below, which may also stock some of the earlier singles.

Possible places to order the singles...

Action Records
Atomic Sounds
Fantastic Plastic
hitBACK Online
Key Mail Order
Opal Music
Sister Ray