Before The Future: 1984-1989 is a 4 CD box-set from Then Jerico, covering their London Records output, 1987’s First (The Sound of Music) and Big Area (Outside) from 1989, plus a selection of single/ extended cuts and eleven previously unreleased tracks, that includes seven demos recorded prior to the band’s debut album. The collection is released on 23 August 2024.
This collection is a great way to listen to the first two albums and their associated extra tracks. First (The Sound of Music) is the sound of a band finding its identity, which was a cross between rock/pop and funk elements, and contains one of their finest singles in The Motive, which has aged particularly well.
The Roxy Music Prairie Rose cover version is delivered with respect to the original, especially the extended 7″ version, which has a clearer mix to the album cut.
The second disc in this 4 CD collection contains further remixes but it is Disc 3 where my interest really kicks in, with the second Then Jerico studio album, The Big Area. The title track (my favourite Then Jerico song), plus What Does It Take? (featuring Belinda Carlisle) and the final single, Sugar Box still sound powerful all those years later.
The extended What Does It Take?, with its ambient, extended outro and Big Area (Lost Mix) make this an essential collection for fans of the band and 80s music in general.
Of the extra tracks, b-side The Happening has a refreshing pace and features soulful backing vocals from Richard Derbyshire (Living in a Box), giving out strong Michael McDonald vibes.
Disc four features further remixes as well as seven pre-debut album demos, which show that the arrangements were already fully formed prior to the first albums final recording sessions.
Before The Future: 1984-1989 also features a 28-page CD booklet, with a discography and exclusive sleeve notes.
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Disc One
First (The Sound Of Music)
Let Her Fall
Blessed Days
Laughter Party
Stable Boy
The Motive
Muscle Deep
A Quiet Place (Apathy & Sympathy)
Play Dead
The Hitcher
Prairie Rose
Bonus Tracks
Blessed Days (Tokyo Mix)
Fault (Dub)
The Big Sweep
Fault (7” Version) *
Muscle Deep (7” Version – Julian Mendelsohn Remix)
Prairie Rose (Extended 7” Version)
The Motive (7” Version)
Disc Two
Extended Mixes & B-Sides
The Big Sweep (Club Mix)
The Rack *
Fault (Club Mix) *
Muscle Deep (Extended Version) *
Clank (Countdown To Oblivion)
Distant Homes
Let Her Fall (The Absolute Version) *
Searching
Prairie Rose (12” Version) *
Electric
One Life
The Motive (Extended Version) *
The Word (Live)
The Motive (Midnight Mix)
The Motive (USA Mix)
Let Her Fall (12” Remix) *
Disc Three
Big Area (Outside)
Big Area
What Does It Take?
You Ought To Know
Song For The Brokenhearted
Darkest Hour
Reeling
Where You Lie
Sugar Box
Helpless
Under Fire
Bonus Tracks
Trampled Underfoot
The Happening
What Does It Take? (Extended)
Jungle
Big Area (Lost Mix)
Sugar Box (Blue Instrumental)
Disc Four
From The Vaults
The Motive (Nightmare Mix)
Prairie Rose (7” DJ Version) *
What Does It Take? (Great Mix) *
Let Her Fall (USA Mix)
The Motive (Longer USA Mix)
Let Her Fall (7” Version) *
What Does It Take? (Single Version)
Let Her Fall (7” Remix) *
Blessed Days (12” Version)
The Word (Demo) *
Let Her Fall (Demo) *
The Hitcher (Demo) *
Quiet Place (Demo) *
Play Dead (Demo) *
Stable Boy (Demo) *
The Motive (Demo) *
* Released on CD for the first time
Buy Then Jerico – Before The Future: 1984-1989 CD box-set from Amazon
Mr Kinski's Music Shack 
Thank you for the complimentary and insightful review! Cheers!(Mark Shaw:Then Jerico lead singer / lyricist / songwriter / co-producer)
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If this is the only way I can convey my admiration for both Then Jericho and Mark Shaw, I’ll take it.
Brilliant band, brilliant songs and a damn fine front man. Should have been much bigger, as Tommy Shaw said “Success is fickle, but creativity is a gift”. Thanks for all the memories.
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