Briefly...

Stimulant was a short lived label formed by myself, Peter Urlich amd Mark Philips in 1985 to release a couple of dance tracks I'd licensed in the UK from PWL Records in South London. I'd turned up at their door and asked it anyone had the rights in New Zealand for an act called Princess. 'Nope', I was told by Pete Waterman, 'Do you want them?'

Thus, having sorted out a distribution deal with CBS we were in business. Peter did the art and Mark and I did the A&R.

When the three of us briefly fell out in 1987 it all ground to a halt. However in that two years we had managed to notch up some 50,000 sales with one platinum and three gold records.

The Catalogue..

STM 001 / STM 12001 / STMC 001

Princess - Say I'm Your Number One

7"/12"/Cassette

The record I licensed in London. We somehow managed to convince New Zealand it was the hippest record on the planet and it sailed up to number two on the singles charts and found itself positioned as an urban anthem of sorts in NZ.

A number one would've been better. Almost platinum.

(12") A: Say I'm Your Number One B1: Say I'm Your Number One (Short Version) B2: Say I'm Your Number One (Senza Voce) ( Nov 1985)

STM 002 / STM 12002 / STMC 002

Princess - After The Love Has Gone

7"/12"/Cassette

Single number two and a number 6. Once again a gold record in NZ

(12") A: After The Love Has Gone B: After The Love Has Gone (Senza Voce) (Mar 1986)

STM 003 / STM 12003 / STMC 003

Princess - I'll Keep On Loving You

7"/12"/Cassette

Third single. Number 11 on the NZ charts. Princess had more success in NZ than anywhere else in the world. As a result I was offered the Stock Aitken Waterman publishing but didn't have the bucks for the advance so passed. Passed on god knows how much.....

A bit like turning down Blue Monday (yes I did that too).

(12") A: I'll Keep On Loving You (Extended) B: I'll Keep On Loving You (DJ Mix) (Aug 86)

STM 12004

Princess - Tell Me Tomorrow / In The Heat Of The Passionate Moment

12" only

There were two distinct versions of this 12", which collected together someof the countless UK and US 12" mixes of Princess tracks. All in a natty sleeve designed by Chad Taylor.

(12" 1) A: Tell Me Tomorrow (Weekend Mix) B1: In The Heat Of The Passionate Moment (So Long Mix) B2: After The Love Has Gone (The Last Remix).

(12" 2) A: In The Heat Of The Passionate Moment (Garage Mix) B1: Tell Me Tomorrow (Extended Version) B2: After The Love Has Go-Go Gone (Jan 1987)

STM 12005

ASD - Ocean

12" only

From Alan Jansson, myself and Car Crash Set's Dave Bulog. Test pressing only.

A: Ocean B: Ocean (Version) (1988)

ES 12153

Goon Squad - Eight Arms To Hold You

7"/12"/Cassette

An Arthur Baker produced 12" which we licensed from CBS for our 8 Arms To Hold You compilation and issued as a single with Stimulant branding. It peaked at number 6 helped by massive club play and the cute video as below.

A: Eight Arms To Hold You (Vocal) B1: Eight Arms To Hold You (Bonus Beat) B2: Eight Arms To Hold You (Dub) (Mar 1986)

STML 5001 / STMC 5001

Various

8 Arms To Hold You

LP / Cassette

The first dance compilation in New Zealand and a record that was the first exposure the country had to stuff like Def Jam, Full Force, and the next generation of hip hop with LL Cool J. Sold in excesss of 20,000 copies in NZ. Artwork by Peter Urlich and Philip Peacocke.

A1: Goon Squad - Eight Arms To Hold You A2: Krystol - Love Is Like An Itchin' In My Heart A3: Juicy - Bad Boy A4: Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam - Can You Feel The Beat B1: Full Force - Alice, I Want You Just For Me B2: Cherrelle - Artificial Heart B3: LL Cool J - I Can't Live Without My Radio B4: Princess - After The Love Has Gone (March 1986)

STML 5002 / STMC 5002

Princess

LP / Cassette

The album of the singles. It was a gold album but by this time our interest had moved on from releasing records by licensed acts and wanted to make our own.

A1: In The Heat Of The Passionate Moment A2: I'll Keep On Loving You A3: After The Love Has Gone A4: Say I'm Your Number One B1: If It Makes You Feel Good B2: Tell Me Tomorrow B3: Anytime's The Right Time B4: Just A Tease (July 1986)

A huge thank you to the selfless Alan Lindley for scanning the 8 Arms sleeve.