In March 2021 BMG / Warner will reissue Japan‘s Quiet Life album from 1980, in several formats, the highlight of which is the deluxe 1LP/3CD edition. The deluxe edition features a 2020 Abbey Road half-speed remaster of the original album, alt mixes, b-sides, singles, rarities and live material.
The 3CD/1LP version comes in and out of stock on Amazon, so keep an eye on the site. It is available from other retailers, including Burning Shed (link below).
CousteauX (formerly known as Cousteau) after a few years away are back, with a new album Stray Gods.
Cousteau were a London based band active from 1999 to 2005, releasing 3 studio albums and known for the songs The Last Good Day of The Year and Mesmer.
Core Cousteau members Liam McKahey and Davey Ray Moor returned as CousteauX in 2016 and after releasing their first album under the CousteauX name in 2017, and a series of well-received gigs, it all went quiet again and the band seemed to have disappeared. Until now.
Stray Gods will be available with songs being released via their website, one track at a time, with a choose your own price model. There is no news at this stage of a physical release (a vinyl release would be welcome!) but this is a good way to support the band and that will hopefully lead to further music.
The Bathers Marina Records trilogy received it’s first vinyl release in October 2020. Lagoon Blues, Sunpowder and Kelvingrove Baby were released on 180g vinyl and CD in remixed and remastered versions on 23 October 2020.
Scotland’s best-kept secret The Bathers will appeal to fans of The Blue Nile, Tom Waits and David Bowie. If you enjoy orchestrated, emotional, literate music that swerves from the standard rock template, The Bathers might become your new favourite band. You can thank me later.
Lagoon Blues
A 2020 remixed and remastered version of the album that was originally released on Marina Records in 1993. Lagoon Blues is an ambitious and emotional journey. Listen to the beautiful Venice Shoes, with its evocation of empty ballrooms and rainy nights on the lamp lit streets and city squares of Glasgow, below.
Lagoon Blues Pt. 1 Venice Shoes Gracefruit Never Too Late Fermina Fair Easter – for Edda Van Heemstra Pissoir / The Ornella Mutiny Through The Old Holmwood Sweetheart Sessions Lolita Via D’Oro Ave The Leopards Carnival Easter Sorbonne Lagoon Blues Pt. 2
A 2020 remixed and remastered version of the album that was originally released on Marina Records in 1995. Elizabeth Fraser of The Cocteau Twins contributes vocals to several tracks, most notably on the free-spirited The Angel On Ruskin (listen below).
Danger In Love The Angel On Ruskin Delft Faithless For Saskia Weem Rock Muse The Night Is Young Send Me Your Halo She’s Gone Forever The Dutch Venus Sunpowder
A 2020 remixed and remastered version of the final album in the Marina Records trilogy, originally released in 1997. Kelvingrove Baby features contributions from Justin Currie (Del Amitri) and James Grant (Love and Money).
The personal highlight on the albumis my favourite song from the band, the achingly beautiful If Love Could Last Forever.
“They flutter down like fireflies Tugging at your sleeves Somehow rise to shame you Bring you to your knees”
Thrive Girlfriend If Love Could Last Forever East Of East Delier Kelvingrove Baby Dial Once Upon A Time On The Rapenburg Girl From The Polders The Fragrance Remains Insane Hellespont In A Storm Twelve
UMC / Polydor have released a new Style Council collection: Long Hot Summers: The Story Of The Style Council.
The collection is available on CD and vinyl, and contains key single and album tracks from the band formed by Paul Weller & Mick Talbot after The Jam split.
This impressive collection features many of the great singles / EP and album tracks such as My Ever-Changing Moods, The Paris Match, Speak Like a Child, Have You Ever Had It Blue as well as less celebrated songs such as the stark Ghosts Of Dachau and the breezy How She Threw It All Away.
The collection includes tracks featuring drummer Steve White and vocalist Dee C. Lee, and was endorsed and co-compiled by Paul Weller.
Long Hot Summers: The Story Of The Style Council contains two previously unreleased recordings – a demo of the top 5 single My Ever Changing Moods (with strings), and an extended version of Dropping Bombs On The Whitehouse (the original version featured on the band’s first album, Café Bleu).
The release ties in with a Sky Arts documentary about the band, featuring interviews with all key members, fans and collaborators.
Headstart for Happiness Long Hot Summer My Ever-Changing Moods Walls Come Tumbling Down! Party Chambers Wanted (or Waiter, There’s…) Shout to the Top! It Just Came to Pieces in My Hands Come to Milton Keynes Why I Went Missing Waiting Ghosts Of Dachau Down in the Seine The Paris Match Boy Who Cried Wolf Life at a Top People’s Health Farm Homebreakers Dropping Bombs On The Whitehouse (Extended version)
Disc two
Speak Like a Child The Lodgers (Or She Was Only…) Money Go Round You’re the Best Thing How She Threw It All Away A Man of Great Promise The Piccadilly Trail A Solid Bond in Your Heart All Gone Away Sweet Loving Ways Promised Land Have You Ever Had It Blue It Didn’t Matter Spin’ Drifting Here’s One That Got Away A Woman’s Song Changing of the Guard My Ever-Changing Moods (Demo) Shout To The Top (Instrumental)
Vinyl Tracklisting:
Side A Headstart for Happiness Long Hot Summer My Ever-Changing Moods Walls Come Tumbling Down! Party Chambers
Side B Wanted (or Waiter, There’s…) Shout to the Top! It Just Came to Pieces in My Hands Come to Milton Keynes Why I Went Missing Waiting
Side C Ghosts Of Dachau Down in the Seine The Paris Match Life at a Top People’s Health Farm Dropping Bombs On The Whitehouse (Extended version)
Side D Speak Like a Child The Lodgers (Or She Was Only…) Money Go Round You’re the Best Thing How She Threw It All Away
Side E A Man of Great Promise The Piccadilly Trail A Solid Bond in Your Heart Sweet Loving Ways Promised Land It Didn’t Matter
Side F Have You Ever Had It Blue Spin’ Drifting Here’s One That Got Away Changing of the Guard My Ever-Changing Moods (Demo)
Parlophone have reissued eight Kraftwerk albums on limited edition 180g coloured vinyl. The audio included on these re-issued albums will be the 2009 remasters.
The boxset edition (which like the previous TFF box-sets, is likely to sell-out at some point down the line) includes a Steven Wilson 5.1 surround sound mix on the bluray, whilst the other 4 CDs in the boxset contain a remaster of the album, a CD of b-sides, remixes and edits plus two CD’s of unreleased audio (including alt mixes and demos).
The booklet for the box-set includes interviews and notes by Paul Sinclair who runs the excellent Super Deluxe Edition website.
The Prince Estate is continuing to release his studio albums in expanded form, complete with material from his legendary Vault. Considered by many to be his masterpiece, Sign O’ The Times is being issued on vinyl and CD, remastered and overflowing with extras.
The super deluxe edition (8 CD and 1 DVD) includes all the audio material that Prince officially released in 1987, as well as 45 previously unreleased studio songs recorded between May 1979 and July 1987, and a complete live audio performance from the June 20 1987 show on the Sign O’ The Times Tour at Stadium Galgenwaard in Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Also included is a brand-new DVD containing the complete, previously unreleased New Year’s Eve benefit concert at Paisley Park on December 31 1987, which was Prince’s final performance of the Sign O’ The Times Tour stage show and his only on-stage collaboration with jazz legend Miles Davis.
Weighing in at a hefty price, this is a real collectors edition – and includes a 120-page hardcover book with previously unseen images and hand-written lyrics.
The super deluxe edition (like the 1999 super-deluxe) is likely to sell-out, and become a collectors item. If you are fan of Prince, the super deluxe is a treasure trove of unreleased music, plus one of the greatest albums of all time in remastered form. Dig deep, it will be worth it!
Sign O’ The Times Play In The Sunshine Housequake The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker It Starfish And Coffee Slow Love Hot Thing Forever In My Life
Remastered Album (CD 2)
U Got The Look If I Was Your Girlfriend Strange Relationship I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man The Cross It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night Adore
Single Mixes & Edits (CD 3)
Sign O’ The Times (7” single edit) La, La, La, He, He, Hee (7” single edit) La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (7” single edit) If I Was Your Girlfriend (7” single edit) Shockadelica (“If I Was Your Girlfriend” B-side) Shockadelica (12” long version) U Got the Look (Long Look) (12” edit) Housequake (7” edit) Housequake (7 Minutes MoQuake) I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (Fade 7” edit) Hot Thing (7” single edit) Hot Thing (Extended Remix) Hot Thing (Dub Version)
Vault, Part 1 (CD 4)
All tracks previously unreleased
I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (1979 version) Teacher, Teacher (1985 version) All My Dreams Can I Play With U? (featuring Miles Davis) Wonderful Day (original version) Strange Relationship (original version) Visions The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker (with horns) Witness 4 The Prosecution (version 1) Power Fantastic (live in studio) And That Says What? Love And Sex A Place In Heaven (Prince vocal) Colors Crystal Ball (7” mix) Big Tall Wall (version 1) Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A In A Large Room With No Light
Vault, Part 2 (CD 5)
All tracks previously unreleased
Train It Ain’t Over ‘Til The Fat Lady Sings Eggplant (Prince vocal) Everybody Want What They Don’t Got Blanche Soul Psychodelicide The Ball Adonis And Bathsheba Forever In My Life (early vocal studio run-through) Crucial (alternate lyrics) The Cocoa Boys When The Dawn Of The Morning Comes Witness 4 The Prosecution (version 2) It Be’s Like That Sometimes
Vault, Part 3 (CD 6)
All tracks previously unreleased
Emotional Pump Rebirth Of The Flesh (with original outro) Cosmic Day Walkin’ In Glory Wally I Need A Man Promise To Be True Jealous Girl (version 2) There’s Something I Like About Being Your Fool Big Tall Wall (version 2) A Place In Heaven (Lisa vocal) Wonderful Day (12” mix) Strange Relationship (1987 Shep Pettibone Club Mix)
Live In Utrecht (CD 7 & CD 8)
All tracks previously unreleased
Intro/Sign O’ The Times Play In The Sunshine Little Red Corvette Housequake Girls & Boys Slow Love Take The “A” Train/Pacemaker/I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man Hot Thing Four (With Sheila E. Drum Solo) If I Was Your Girlfriend Let’s Go Crazy When Doves Cry Purple Rain 1999 Forever In My Life Kiss The Cross It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night
Live At Paisley Park – December 31, 1987 (DVD)
All tracks previously unreleased
Sign O’ The Times Play In The Sunshine Little Red Corvette Erotic City Housequake Slow Love Do Me, Baby Adore I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man What’s Your Name Jam Let’s Pretend We’re Married Delirious Jack U Off Drum Solo Twelve Hot Thing If I Was Your Girlfriend Let’s Go Crazy When Doves Cry Purple Rain 1999 U Got The Look It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night Medley (featuring Miles Davis)
Please note – video content is exclusive to the physical DVD and will not appear on digital download or streaming versions of the Super Deluxe Edition set.
Deluxe Edition 3 CD Set Remastered Album + Single Mixes & Edits
Remastered Album (Disc 1)
Sign O’ The Times Play In The Sunshine Housequake The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker It Starfish And Coffee Slow Love Hot Thing Forever In My Life
Remastered Album (Disc 2)
U Got The Look If I Was Your Girlfriend Strange Relationship I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man The Cross It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night Adore
Single Mixes & Edits (Disc 3)
Sign O’ The Times (7” single edit) La, La, La, He, He, Hee (7” single edit) La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (7” single edit) If I Was Your Girlfriend (7” single edit) Shockadelica (“If I Was Your Girlfriend” B-side) Shockadelica (12” long version) U Got the Look (Long Look) (12” edit) Housequake (7” edit) Housequake (7 Minutes MoQuake) I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (Fade 7” edit) Hot Thing (7” single edit) Hot Thing (Extended Remix) Hot Thing (Dub Version)
To complete the reissue programme of the band’s catalogue, The Blue Nile have been working alongside long term producer/engineer partner Calum Malcolm to remaster the band’s final studio album High, for release on CD and (for the first time) on vinyl on 5 June 2020.
The album will be released as a two-disc Deluxe CD set, featuring nine remastered tracks plus a bonus disc consisting of four previously unreleased songs and two extended remixes.
Also available for the first time will be a 12” vinyl version featuring the nine remastered album tracks, on 180 gram black vinyl.
Often overlooked when discussing the band’s music, High is a fine album, containing one of their most moving songs, the country tinged because of toledo, the slow-burning title track and stay close, that could have comfortably sat on their debut album, A Walk Across The Rooftops.
Re-mastered from the original master tapes, Ultimate Dollar contains 6 audio discs and a DVD, which contains all their videos and several TV appearances.
The reason for my mentioning the collection on this site is that the box-set will be of particular interest to Trevor Horn fans. Discs three and four cover the Gold certified The Dollar Album era. This Dollar album includes four Trevor Horn productions and co-written songs, and also includes Trevor Horn on bass guitar plus Bruce Woolley and Anne Dudley (keyboards & synthesizers) on the Horn produced singles.
Also included is the Mirror Mirror (Mon Amour) (Demo), with what sounds suspiciously like Trevor Horn on vocals.
This expanded edition includes newly commissioned 12” versions of all five top 40 hits contained on the album, mixed from the original multi track tapes – Hand Held In Black And White (UK #19), Mirror Mirror (Mon Amour) (UK #4), Give Me Back My Heart (UK #4), Videotheque (UK #17) and Give Me Some Kinda Magic (UK #34), as well as backing tracks, B-sides and instrumentals of many songs.
The box-set also includes newly commissioned vintage style 12” mixes of Mirror Mirror, Give Me Back My Heart, Hand Held In Black And White, Videotheque, Give Me Some Kinda Magic and Love’s Gotta Hold On Me from the original multi track tapes.
The box-set also includes a detailed booklet containing track-by-track commentary from Thereza Bazar and many others involved in the releases, as well as photos, detailed liner notes on each disc, and The Dollar Songbook lyrics.
The previous CD release was part of a double-pack featuring The Glamour Chase, from 2002. This new Cherry Red edition is the first CD release featuring an expanded track-listing.
Originally released in February 1985 after exhaustive recording sessions, Billy Mackenzie finally followed up the 1982 Associates album Sulk with this 10 track offering. The album featured four different producers, Heaven 17’s Martyn Ware, Martin Rushent, Dave Allen and Greg Walsh.
Disc One features the 10 original album tracks plus four instrumentals that were included on the original cassette release of the album. These bonus tracks are appearing on CD for the first time.
Disc Two features all the related bonus tracks for which master tapes still exist. This includes the extended versions of singles Those First Impressions, Waiting For The Loveboat and the wonderful single Take Me To The Girl, plus single versions of Waiting For The Loveboat, Breakfast and Take Me To The Girl. Other tracks include 7” and 12” b-sides.
Housed in a digipak containing a 20 page page booklet, a UK discography and extensive sleeve-notes written by Andy Davis.
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