Tubular Bells

80s club hit makers Book of Love have announced a September 25 show at New York's Highline Ballroom to commemorate the silver anniversary (25 years? It can't be!) of their self-titled debut album as well as the re-release of their catalog.

I don't remember seeing it reported anywhere at the time, but the band's Sire Records catalog was remastered - bulked up with the usual remixes, demos, live tracks, and rarities - and released back in May by Noble Rot/Collector's Choice. I didn't keep up with them past their first two records but those two pack some great singles. Tracklistings for the reissues:

Book Of Love
Disc 1
1. Modigliani (Lost In Your Eyes)
2. You Make Me Feel So Good
3. Still Angry
4. White Lies
5. Lost Souls
6. Late Show
7. I Touch Roses
8. Yellow Sky
9. Boy
10. Happy Day
11. Die Matrosen
12. Book Of Love

Disc 2
1. Happy Day (Live)
2. You Make Me Feel So Good (Demo)
3. Lost Souls (Demo)
4. Boy (Demo)
5. I Touch Roses (Full Bloom Version)
6. Modigliani (Instrumental)
7. White Lies (Demo)
8. I Touch Roses (Demo)
9. We Three Kings
10. Boy (Dub)
11. Boy (Live)


Lullaby
1. Tubular Bells
2. Pretty Boys And Pretty Girls
3. Sea Of Tranquility
4. Melt My Heart
5. With A Little Love
6. Witchcraft
7. You Look Through Me
8. Champagne Wishes
9. Oranges And Lemons
10. Lullaby
11. Pretty Boys And Pretty Girls (Extended Mix)
12. Tubular Bells/Pretty Boys And Pretty Girls (Regan's House Medley)
13. Lullaby (Pleasant Dream Mix)
14. Witchcraft (Extended Mix)
15. Enchantra


Candy Carol
1. Intro
2. Turn The World
3. Quiver
4. Butterfly
5. Sunny Day
6. Flower Parade
7. Wall Song
8. Alice Everyday
9. Counting The Rosaries
10. Miss Melancholy
11. Orange Flip
12. Candy Carol
13. Alice Everyday (Everyday-Glo Mix)
14. Alice Everyday (Sam The Butcher Mix)
15. Sunny Day (Single Remix)
16. Counting The Rosaries (Happiness & Love Mix)


Lovebubble
1. Sunday A.M.
2. Happily Ever After
3. Sound And Vision
4. Hunny Hunny
5. Trouble In A Bubble
6. Chatterbox (Pt. 1)
7. Salve My Soul
8. Woyaya
9. Boy Pop
10. Flower In My Hand
11. Enchanted
12. Tambourine
13. Leap Of Faith
14. Chatterbox (Pt. 2)
15. Boy Pop (Go Bottom Go Top Mix)
16. Boy Pop (Swinging Boy Pop Mix)
17. Hunny Hunny (Sweet & Sticky Mix)
18. Chatterbox (Pt. 2) (Late Nite Chat Mix)

Listen to "Tubular Bells/Pretty Boys And Pretty Girls (Regan's House Medley)." I wore the groove out on this 12-inch back in eighth grade!

Deluxe Edition Madness

I've never been one to pretend that I understand record label strategy. In most cases, it's because there seems to be no rhyme or reason to what they do. My relationship with them pretty much equates to a battered wife situation: I offer support in the form of hard-earned cash, they beat me, and I come back for more.

What's got me all hot and bothered lately is deluxe editions. Don't get me wrong, I love a good deluxe edition of a classic album as much as the next music fan but there are records that deserve it (REM's Murmur comes to mind) and those that don't (The Gin Blossoms' New Miserable Experience? Really?).

The criteria for a deluxe edition once seemed to be: is the record a classic? Does it deserve this treatment? Is there bonus material to make it worth buying again? Does it make any sense? The latest epidemic of deluxe editions of records mere months after they were originally released flies in the face of that thinking, turning admittedly fine records into classics before "earning" it.

In the coming weeks the indie music fan will decide whether or not to buy deluxe editions of records that have been out about a year or less:

The Friendly Fires record has been out since July of 2008. The deluxe edition is out now and includes a bonus DualDisc with new single "Kiss Of Life," remixes, videos, and a concert filmed in May.

Two Suns by Bat For Lashes has been out since April. The deluxe edition dropped this week and boasts eight bonus tracks and a documentary DVD.

Fever Ray's self-titled album was released in March. The deluxe edition comes out October 12 and has bonus tracks and a DVD of videos.

These are good records. They may even be worthy of a deluxe edition ten years in the future. But do they deserve a deluxe edition now, months after their original release? And what of the fans who have already bought the album? The new versions have been padded with decent bonus material that a fan would want but they'll surely feel a little put out to have to buy the album again.

I guess the point is that if you buy an album early, more and more often you can expect to have to buy it again within the year. So what is the savvy record buyer to do? Wait a year just to be sure a deluxe edition isn't released? I highly doubt the record companies would like that but they're not really respecting their consumer so why should the consumer respect them? It's no wonder people can't be bothered to buy music anymore.

Eins, Zwei, Drei, Vier, Fünf, Sechs, Sieben, Acht!

Shocker! Kraftwerk's The Catalogue is finally being released on October 6 via Astralwerks (October 5 in the UK via Mute)!

Those who have been following the saga know that the albums Autobahn, Radio-Activity, Trans-Europe Express, The Man-Machine, Computer World, Techno Pop, The Mix, and Tour de France were remastered earlier in the decade but were never released. The word on the street is that the band was unhappy with the result and undertook an entirely new remastering job. Hope they sound good!

On to the details: The box set features eight CDs housed in mini-vinyl card wallet sleeves along with a booklet for each album. The albums will also be released individually on CD, vinyl, and as digital downloads. Due to licensing restrictions, only five of the albums will be available in the US outside of the box set. A German language version is slated for release October 2.

The cover art for each album been reworked to some degree which irks a purist like me, but I will admit they do look a bit like a cohesive set now. Word is there will be additional artwork but loads of bonus tracks aren't likely as the band doesn't have much unreleased material.

Watch a short promo video for the set:

Asleep In The Back

Elbow's Mercury Prize-nominated debut album Asleep In The Back is getting the deluxe reissue treatment. Polydor will release the 2 CD + DVD package on September 28 (UK; kinda doubt this will get a domestic release but one can hope).

The big news is that (most of) the insanely rare Noisebox EP is included. I haven't seen any explanation of why "George Lassoes The Moon" isn't here but it would be interesting to know why. The Elbow site says that 200 copies of the EP were made and I've seen how much they go for on eBay so the fact that it's included in this set is amazing.

My biggest issue with the tracklisting is, where are the period b-sides? I have them all (of course) but maybe they'll turn up on that b-sides collection that's been rumored since before they left V2? I'm not sure where the unreleased videos on the DVD come from. I know there were videos made at the time for the singles but the fact that they all say "previously unreleased" makes me think this is something else. One wonders whether the audio on the DVD will be mixed in 5.1 or if it's strictly just there for visuals. And why are the Noisebox tracks repeated on the DVD? I have too many questions at this point. Anyway, here's the rundown:

Disc 1

1. Any Day Now
2. Red
3. Little Beast
4. Powder Blue
5. Bitten By The Tail Fly
6. Asleep In The Back
7. Newborn
8. Don't Mix Your Drinks
9. Presuming Ed (Rest Easy)
10. Coming Second
11. Can't Stop
12. Scattered Black And Whites

Disc 2

1. Powder Blue (Noisebox EP Version)
2. Red (Noisebox EP Version)
3. Theme From Munroe Kelly (Noisebox EP Version)
4. Can't Stop (Noisebox EP Version)
5. Bitten By The Tail Fly (Live At The Astoria)
6. Coming Second (Live At The Astoria)
7. Don't Mix Your Drinks (Live At The Astoria)
8. Can't Stop (Live At The Astoria)
9. Scattered Black And Whites (Live At The Astoria)
10. George Lassoes The Moon (Live At The Astoria)
11. Newborn (Radio 1 Lamacq Session Previously Unreleased)
12. Don't Mix Your Drinks (Radio 1 Lamacq Session Previously Unreleased)
13. Red (Radio 1 Lamacq Session Previously Unreleased)

DVD

1. Any Day Now (Previously Unreleased Video)
2. Red (Previously Unreleased Video)
3. Little Beast (Previously Unreleased Video)
4. Powder Blue (Previously Unreleased Video)
5. Bitten By The Tail Fly (Previously Unreleased Video)
6. Asleep In The Back (Previously Unreleased Video)
7. Newborn (Previously Unreleased Video)
8. Don't Mix Your Drinks (Previously Unreleased Video)
9. Presuming Ed (Rest Easy) (Previously Unreleased Video)
10. Coming Second (Previously Unreleased Video)
11. Can't Stop (Previously Unreleased Video)
12. Scattered Black And Whites (Previously Unreleased Video)
13. Powder Blue (Noisebox EP Version)
14. Red (Noisebox EP Version)
15. Theme From Munroe Kelly (Noizebox EP Version)
16. Can't Stop (Noisebox EP Version)
17. Bitten By The Tail Fly (Live At The Astoria)
18. Coming Second (Live At The Astoria)
19. Don't Mix Your Drinks (Live At The Astoria)
20. Can't Stop (Live At The Astoria)
21. Scattered Black And Whites (Live At The Astoria)
22. George Lassoes The Moon (Live At The Astoria)
23. Newborn (Radio 1 Lamacq Session Previously Unreleased)
24. Don't Mix Your Drinks (Radio 1 Lamacq Session Previously Unreleased)
25. Red (Radio 1 Lamacq Session Previously Unreleased)

Universal has disabled embedding from YouTube so I can't include any of the videos from this period but enjoy "Powder Blue."

The Girl With The Patent Leather Face

I don't know how I missed this, but seminal 80s compilation Some Bizzare Album has been reissued on CD for the first time since a limited pressing in 1992. Prior to that it was only available on vinyl which had become rather scarce and was selling for loads on eBay.

The record is probably most famous for featuring Depeche Mode's first released recording: the "Some Bizzare Version" of "Photographic" (which was made considerably less rare by its inclusion on The Singles 81>85) as well as Soft Cell's "The Girl With The Patent Leather Face" which has never been released anywhere else. The The and Blancmange also make rare early appearances.

In other Soft Cell news, their classic first album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret has been given the deluxe edition treatment. The 2-disc set features the album as well as its companion remix album Non-Stop Exotic Dancing and various period b-sides and non-album singles. I'll have to do some research to see if this is the definitive version of the album (I have two other pressings) but something tells me it won't be. Typical.

A remix album called Heat: The Remixes was released simultaneously. It features 26 remixes by Manhattan Clique, Richard X, Playgroup, Solvent, and Atomizer and a host of others. I haven't delved into all of it yet but the remixes I've heard did a good job at the balancing act of maintaining respect for - and the spirit of - the original track while still giving it a contemporary update.

Listen:

Soft Cell - The Girl With The Patent Leather Face
Soft Cell - Seedy Films (Richard X Remix)

You Should've Been Nice To Me

You may remember some talk around these parts about the upcoming reissue of Morrissey's Southpaw Grammar. Guitarist Boz Boorer has confirmed that two of the bonus tracks on the reissue will be "Honey You Know Where To Find Me" and "You Should've Been Nice To Me" which means that two of the three bonus tracks are bona fide previously unreleased tracks. Not sure what the third one is yet, but this Wiki entry suggests it will be "Laughing Anne," another unreleased song from the same period.

I recently listened to the album for the first time in years and found myself really enjoying it so I'm looking forward to having more from that period. The reissue was supposedly coming out in July but I can't find a release date for it and the month is nearly out so we'll just have to wait and see!

Midnight Madness

Five years after the release of Singles 93-03, The Chemical Brothers are set to release a best-of package called Brotherhood on 9/2. The album will be preceded by a digital single of the new track "Midnight Madness" on 8/19 and will include another new track called "Keep My Composure."

I'm not sure about the necessity of another Chems compilation after two studio albums (this one shares eight tracks with Singles 93-03, though many appear here in their single edit form) but one must assume that the real draw will be the bonus disc "Electronic Battle Weapons," ten tracks which have previously only been available on limited promotional vinyl. At least they're giving you an actual bonus for buying these songs again.

Disc 1
01. Galvanize
02. Hey Boy Hey Girl
03. Block Rockin' Beats
04. Do It Again
05. Believe
06. Star Guitar
07. Let Forever Be
08. Leave Home
09. Keep My Composure
10. Saturate
11. Out Of Control
12. Midnight Madness
13. The Golden Path
14. Setting Sun
15. Chemical Beats

Disc 2
Electronic Battle Weapons 1-10

Download:

The Chemical Brothers - Electronic Battle Weapon 10

A Cabinet Of Curiosities

A Jane's Addiction box set is apparently in the works and slated to come out on 10/28. Unfortunately, I have yet to see any details other than the title A Cabinet Of Curiosities. The set had a little mention in a recent ad for Marshall but whether or not the set will come packaged in a wooden apothecary box as pictured is anybody's guess (my guess is no, though that would be exceedingly cool).

I'm trying not to get my hopes up about the contents of this box but maybe the powers that be will actually deliver. What could be on it? To be sure, their complete studio recordings as I know them would fit on about three discs (two if Warners doesn't bother to license any of the band's output for Capitol, which would be fine with me). Who knows if there are any suitable outtakes or unreleased tracks? I suppose it's a possibility. There's always live stuff, and maybe they can manage to include a full show instead of those Frankenstein one-song-from-here-one-song-from-there live albums that I'm not fond of. Perhaps a DVD of all of their videos? A DVD of a full live show? I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

"Three Days" live in Milan, 1990. A-maz-ing:

Years Of Refusal

Many things are happening in the world of Morrissey:

I'm a bit late in reporting that the release of "All You Need Is Me" has been delayed until June 2. There has been some speculation that the label was going to scrap it altogether but since some stock had already been manufactured, they'd move out the release date and make it a one-week only release. Which means this one is likely to be pretty rare. My copies have been on order for weeks so I'm hoping I get them and don't have to turn to eBay. Not that I'm above it.

A video has been made for the single, in which we find Morrissey walking about a municipal garden with his gang of younger, somewhat tough-looking lads. Nothing new there then. Will someone please write the man a different treatment for his next video? [As an aside, do you suppose Boz feels just slightly intimidated by all of the tight t-shirts and muscle on display? Surely he must.]



Somewhat surprisingly, Sony-BMG are planning to reissue Southpaw Grammar - an album which didn't exactly tear up the charts on its initial release - as an expanded, remastered edition in July. This version will reportedly boast new artwork and three unreleased bonus tracks. No news on what they are yet, or if they are indeed unreleased tracks or whether "unreleased bonus tracks" actually means "three tracks already released as b-sides but which we are calling unreleased because nobody bought those singles anyway." So we'll see. Care to wager a guess as to what they'll be?

Years Of Refusal, Morrissey's ninth solo record, has been completed and is due out in September via Universal. It was produced by Jerry Finn, who previously worked on You Are The Quarry which, as you'll remember, was really quite good as it brought Morrissey back out of those cruel late-90s/early-2000s drought years and made a bunch of people (including the NME, for a while anyway!) remember how awesome he always was.

In business news, Morrissey has ended his relationship with manager Merck Mercuriadis, opting instead to go with ie:music who also represent, uh, Robbie Williams. And we all know how well he's doing under their stewardship. About the split, Merck said, "I believe my penance is complete and Saint Morrissey has granted my absolution." At least all of that time spent doing penance with Moz has reaped dividends in the skill of tart quips!

Finally, a little birdy told me that Morrissey was at KCRW's studio in LA last week doing "pre-taping" with Nic Harcourt. Is a Morning Becomes Eclectic session on the way?

Thirty Frames A Second

Simple Minds have announced that the original line-up of the band is set to record for the first time in 27 years. They're entering the studio for a week in June with the goal of recording two tracks for release later this year. There's no mention of how those tracks might be released - bonus tracks for yet another best-of compilation? I hope not - but I have to say that I'm just a bit excited that the line-up responsible for this:



and:



and:



and:



is recording again. I just hope they can do something that somehow echoes their interesting, edgy roots and not the bloated arena rock that came later.

The band (not the original line-up, however) will play a short 30th anniversary tour in the UK later this year during which they will be perform the entirety of their era-defining album New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84). Man, it hurts to miss that.

Also being planned is a reissue of the Themes box sets to be released on 6/23 (UK). I haven't seen a final tracklist yet, but I hope they get it right this time (which isn't likely, since they will undoubtedly not include the early Zoom/Arista singles). Thanks, record company!

Garden Of The Arcane Delights

The Dead Can Dance catalog is about to get a new life. Remastered editions of all of their albums will be released by 4AD on June 2 (UK; US date unconfirmed). The albums were remastered by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (which means they should sound amazing) and will be released on hybrid SACDs. Hybrid SACDs play in SACD players as well as standard CD players.

The eight albums and one EP will initially come in mini-LP sleeves and will be available in super jewel cases in August. A box set of the entire collection may be available at some point in the future. One assumes that will be a beautiful box indeed. Should you need a reminder, the titles look like this:

Dead Can Dance
Garden Of The Arcane Delights (EP)
Spleen And Ideal
Within The Realm Of A Dying Sun
The Serpent's Egg
Aion
Into The Labyrinth
Toward The Within
Spiritchaser

Watch the "Yulunga" video:

No Spoken Words, Just A Scream

U2 is set to release remastered and expanded editions of their first three albums Boy, October, and War on July 24 via Universal. There will be a single disc version, a double disc version with b-sides, live tracks, and rarities, and an 180gm vinyl version. No word yet on the extras but now would be a good time for them to finally get all of their b-sides released on CD.

Interestingly, Amazon also lists live EP Under A Blood Red Sky for release the same day. That disc could really use some expanding. I'd suggest adding the whole Live At Red Rocks: Under A Blood Red Sky show, or at least finally issuing the concert film on DVD.

"Electric Co" live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver in 1983. Seriously electrifying:

Another Page In Your Diary

We finally have details of the forthcoming Yazoo (or Yaz, depending on which side of the pond you reside) box set In Your Room. Yazoo had a short career, releasing two perfect, eclectic pop albums in 12 months and disbanding before it had a chance to go south. The title of the documentary on the included DVD says it all: 2 albums, 4 singles and that was it. Indeed.

The tracklist is pretty pure: the albums are in the original UK running order, "Situation" is on the b-sides disc where it should be, and the dreadful '90s remixes are nowhere to be seen.

Unfortunately, they missed the boat when it comes to extras. Yazoo recorded a John Peel session and a David Jensen session, half of which was released on the excellent Mute Audio Documents 1978-1984 box set last year. The other half remains unreleased. Also, the BBC recorded a concert at the Dominion Theatre in London on November 22, 1982 (three tracks ended up on Mute Audio Documents) which could have been put to good use here.

Disc 1 (CD): Upstairs at Eric’s (Remastered)
1. Don’t Go
2. Too Pieces
3. Bad Connection
4. I Before E Except After C
5. Midnight
6. In My Room
7. Only You
8. Goodbye ’70s
9. Tuesday
10. Winter Kills
11. Bring Your Love Down (Didn’t I)

Disc 2 (CD): You And Me Both (Remastered)
1. Nobody’s Diary
2. Softly Over
3. Sweet Thing
4. Mr Blue
5. Good Times
6. Walk Away From Love
7. Ode To Boy
8. Unmarked
9. Anyone
10. Happy People
11. And On

Disc 3 (CD): B-Sides and Remixes
1. Situation
2. Situation (Extended Version)
3. Don’t Go (Re-mix)
4. Don’t Go (Re-re-mix)
5. Situation (US 12" Mix)
6. Situation (US 12" Dub)
7. The Other Side Of Love
8. The Other Side Of Love (12" Remix)
9. State Farm
10. Nobody’s Diary (Extended)
11. State Farm (Extended)
12. Situation (Re-recorded)

Disc 4 (DVD)
2 albums, 4 singles and that was it...
1. A short film featuring new interviews with Vince Clarke and Alison Moyet, and exclusive archive footage.

Promotional Videos
1. Don’t Go
2. The Other Side Of Love
3. Nobody’s Diary
4. Situation (1990)
5. Situation - Alternative Version (1990)
6. Only You (1999)

Yazoo At The BBC
1. Only You (Top Of The Pops) 29 Apr 1982
2. Only You (Cheggers Plays Pop) 24 May 1982
3. Don’t Go (Top Of The Pops) 15 Jul 1982
4. Don’t Go (Saturday Live) 24 Jul 1982
5. Don’t Go (Top Of The Pops) 12 Aug 1982
6. The Other Side Of Love (Top Of The Pops) 25 Nov 1982
7. The Other Side Of Love (Top Of The Pops) 09 Dec 1982
8. Nobody’s Diary (Top Of The Pops) 19 May 1983
9. Nobody’s Diary (Top Of The Pops) 02 Jun 1983

5:1 And Stereo Mixes
Upstairs At Eric's
You and Me Both

In Your Room is released in the UK on 5/26. A US date is still pending. Hear Yazoo live from the Dominion Theatre, London:

"Situation" and "Too Pieces"

"Goodbye Seventies" and "Winter Kills"

"Bad Connection" and "Midnight"

"Chinese Detectives" and "In My Room"

"Don't Go" and "The Other Side Of Love"

"Ode To Boy" and "Only You"

I Was Pretending That I Was In A Galaxie 500 Video

Exile In Guyville, one of my favorite records ever, is being reissued as a 2-disc CD+DVD edition on June 24 via ATO. I haven't cared much for most of the stuff Liz Phair did after this album but how could you realistically top it? Probably not by going all pop and having your album produced by The Matrix. But anyway.

I had a long obsession with this record that began when a girlfriend played the titillating "Flower" for me. She was the same girl who'd given me Sonic Youth's Goo for my birthday in my sophomore year. It's a story for another time, but she obviously steered me toward some great stuff.

Anyway. I was a sexually confused 17 year old and had just graduated high school when Exile came out and it really hit me. It was so varied; by turns dirty and weird and poppy and and atmospheric and lo-fi. I fell for it hard. It's supposed to be a track-by-track response to the Stones' Exile On Main Street. I don't know about that but I do know that out of 18 songs not one of them is a dud. Exile In Guyville is probably the most fully realised debut records I own.

Remember the video for "Stratford-On-Guy"?

New Joy Division 'Best Of' Comp to Replace Old 'Best Of' Comp

Word on the street is that a new Joy Division 'best of' compilation is dropping on 3/24 (in the UK; a US release date is TBD). Presumably, this would replace the previous best of that came out in 1995. Can you just hear the record company execs? "But that was ages ago. We needed to freshen it up and make it more modern!"

As if Joy Division needed freshening up.

Need it be said that the songs on this compilation have previously been released several times over, just in a different running order? The 1998 Heart and Soul box pretty much compiled everything the band ever released.

But wait, there's more! If you buy this limited edition, you get an extra disc, the entirely of which has been previously available on The Complete BBC Recordings.

With such cynical treatment of the band's legacy, is it any wonder people don't bother buying CDs anymore?