This puzzled me for a while. According to the latest OIQFC Discography "Manipulator" was the A-side of a Cross single released July 4 1988, which puts it in the 'Shove It' era. Except it wasn't on Shove It. The B-side, "Stand Up For Love" was, but not "Manipulator".

The Cross never released any other non-album songs on their singles, and for a group to make an A-side a non-album song would have to be rare, if not absolutely unique.

The answer is... it's a non-album A-side. The Cross wanted to release a fourth single, and chose "Manipulator". It had been recently written, so it wasn't on 'Shove It'. They didn't make a video for it either, but as it didn't even make the Top 100...

Thank you very much Chris (and your copy of 'As It Began')!

 

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