I’d always assumed that when it comes to single releases in different countries, a band or artist would generally stick to the same songs. It seems that’s not the case.

For example, take The Boomtown Rats’ fourth album, Mondo Bongo. As well as releasing Banana Republic and Elephants’ Graveyard (anyone worked out where the apostrophe should go yet?) they released Go Man Go …… but only in Ireland.

Now there may be an explanation for this…..at about this time, The Rats switched record label in Ireland – Banana Republic was the last single released on the Mulligan label. The Rats had been with Mulligan right from the start and with Elephants’ Graveyard, switched to WEA. So maybe WEA wanted two singles from their newly-acquired band???

But The Rats weren’t the only artists doing this. The best (and weirdest) Kate Bush album by far is 1982’s “The Dreaming”. Although firmly an album track in most countries, Kate released the awe-inspiring Night of the Swallow …. but you guessed it, only in Ireland.

Maybe it was the strong Celtic theme of the song that led to the decision? The B-side was the equally awesome Houdini.