Hiroshima

Mister Hardcastle is a well-known British keyboard/synthesizer player, songwriter, and producer. He has such hits as "19" and "Fly by Night" to his name. He has also produced several jazz all-star albums under the brand "The Jazzmasters."

In 1986, Hardcastle produced the single "One Wish [Paul Hardcastle Remix]" found on the album Black Beat: Black Beat (Self-Titled) (1987), which received wide-spread Top 40 airtime. According to one source, this remix was approved by the record company (at the time, Epic Records/CBS), yet, the band was not consulted for input.

Due to Hardcastle's popoularity and celebrity status, his version of the song was heard across a wider play area than Hiroshima's original version, Another Place (1985): One Wish. Many people (according to my own personal interviews, and comments found on various websites) believed that Hardcastle's version was, in fact, Hiroshima's version. Some have expressed surprise (or disappointment ☹) when they hear Hiroshima's version without Hardcastle's familiar synthesizer lines.

I don't know where the blame lies: with Epic Records/CBS, or, with Hardcastle himself. Either way, there is a point I must concede.

While trying to find the version I heard on the air, I visited the local Tower Records. (Remember that place? It's only online now!) I used their MUSE music database machine and found the song on the tape cassette: Hiroshima: Another Place (1985). While I did notice that the song was different than it was on the radio, I found other songs that hooked me on Hiroshima for life. Those songs include: Save Yourself for Me, Another Place, & Touch And Go. Liking what I heard, my next purchase was: Hiroshima: Third Generation (1983). Once I heard San Say, From the Heart, & Long Walks, I was hooked for good.

It would be two more years before I would discover that the version I had heard on the radio was, in fact, Hardcastle's.

By then, I didn't care any more.

So, in a sideways way, thanks, Mister Hardcastle.

☺

For the record, on 2018-04-19, I contacted Hardcastle (via his website) to glean any information about this release (single, EP, part of an album, … anything). As of 2024-09-04 22:58:07 -0700, he has yet to respond. As I can find NO information about how this song was released, I have to guess one of two things:

That it was a release only to radio stations
Hardcastle received a Cease-And-Desist against production and distribution

Who knows?

On 2018-04-19, I sent an email to Paul Hardcastle in regards to the above song:

I'm trying to do a history on a song that you remixed, but the internet has no SPECIFIC information about its release.

c. 1985 / 1986, you released "One Wish" (remix of the Hiroshima song), but I can not find what album or single/EP that it was released on ANYWHERE! The song (your remix) has a link to a significant event in my family's life, and I'm trying to re-create it as much as possible, thus the information request. Help!

Thank you

On 2018-05-18 (29 days later), I got this answer from "Steve" which says, in its entirety:

Paul tells me that this song is on YouTube.

Regards
Steve