Paul Haig - Chain

Chain

Early in 1988 Haig financed the recording of a new album himself, once more produced with Alan Rankine and cut in just 18 days. Virgin offshoot Circa Records purchased the tapes in August, but chose not to release the album, titled Chain, until May the following year. Neither Chain nor the lead single, "Something Good", broke commercially, and to some the album came as a slight disappointment, with strong material in places undermined by weaker arrangements. Sales were scarcely assisted by Haig's refusal to undertake a lengthy tour, and with much of his following in Europe and Japan, many fans were not even aware that a new record was available. Nevertheless, a showcase at the ICA in London on May 18 saw Haig and his band in fine, powerful form.

Following Drama, Swing In '82 and the Billy Mackenzie pairing, 1988's off the wall project came in the form of the "Dub Organiser" single, a club cut recorded in collaboration with Allan Campbell and released as a one-off on Manchester indie label Play Hard.