As Saint Etienne build toward the release of their final album ‘International’ this September, they revisit one of the most curious and beloved moments from their earliest days: 7 Ways To Love newly reworked by Spanish house producer, David Penn and officially released under the Saint Etienne name for the first time.
First pressed to a one-sided white label in spring 1991, 7 Ways To Love felt like a hit from the start. Recorded with Sarah Cracknell during the Foxbase Alpha sessions at Ian Catt’s studio, the track’s bright, euphoric energy didn’t quite fit with the rest of the band’s catalogue at the time.
To avoid confusion ahead of their debut album launch, they stamped the white labels under a new name, Cola Boy and quietly stepped back from the spotlight as the song took on a life of its own.
Bob Stanley explains:
“We knew the song was commercial, but when it started going nuts in clubs all over the country, and turning up on DJ lists in magazines, we were both shocked and delighted. Not wanting it to detract from our upcoming debut album – we were also signed to Heavenly in the UK and Warner Brothers in the US at the time – Sarah suggested her friend Janey Lee Grace to re-vocal the song, and Pete and I drafted in our dear friend the late Andrew Midgley to stand in for us; the new recording was issued via Arista, making Top Of The Pops and the Top 10 before we knew it.”
Earlier this year, David Penn, a long-time fan of the original white label, got in touch to ask about remixing the track. But only with one condition: he wanted Sarah’s original vocal.
Now, in its full-circle moment, the track returns reimagined, re-energised and, for the first time, officially recognised as a Saint Etienne single. It’s a radiant, club-ready rework that is receiving wide support from a new generation of selectors. 7 Ways To Love is being played by Peggy Gou, Solomun, Jamie Jones, Marco Carola, Groove Armada, Claptone, Joseph Capriati, TSHA, Dusky, Jacques Renault and Joe Goddard.
Saint Etienne x David Penn – 7 Ways To Love is out now digitally on Heavenly Recordings A 12” release is on the way, vinyl pre-order – Wednesday 23rd July
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