VA - Winters Of Discontent - The Peel Sessions 77-83 (1991)

A feature of Peel's BBC Radio 1 shows were the famous John Peel Sessions, which usually consisted of four songs recorded by an artist live in the BBC's studios, and which often provided the first major national coverage to bands that later would achieve great fame (These 'sessions' are similar to 'Live Lounge' sessions recorded today for the station). The BBC employed it's own house bands and orchestras and it also engaged outside bands to record exclusive tracks for its programmes in BBC studios. This was the reason why Peel was able to use "session men" in his own programmes. Sessions were usually recorded and mixed in a single day; as such they often had a rough and ready, demo-like feel, somewhere between a live performance and a finished recording. John Peel remained on BBC Radio 1 for 37 years, until his death in 2004. During that time over 4000 sessions were recorded by over 2000 artists. Many classic Peel Sessions have been released on record, particularly by the Strange Fruit label and this one of these. - wilddevilrules

Absolutely and ridiculously great collection of nearly every important Post-Punk band you can think of, live at Maida Vale studios. Yep, all of these recordings were radio sessions for the late, great DJ, John Peel. To name just a few of the artists featured, how about Buzzcocks, The Skids, The Ruts, The Birthday Party, Young Marble Giants, The Redskins, Associates, The Chameleons and many, many more. As you already know, John Peel wanted each artist to feel comfortable and to experiment. Bands tended to stretch out a bit, relax and have fun. These sessions prove this to be the case. 25 tracks, all of them Fan-Fucking-Tastic. - isupplythecountrywithbutter

Winters Of Discontent - The Peel Sessions 77-83
VARIOUS ARTISTS
1991

TRACKLIST

01. "Somethin' Better Change" - The Stranglers
02. "Love In A Void" - Siouxsie And The Banshees
03. "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" - The Adverts
04. "Shoplifting" - The Slits
05. "Fast Cars" - The Buzzcocks
06. "Rich Kids" - Rich Kids
07. "Of One Skin" - The Skids
08. "It Doesn't Matter" - Adam And The Ants
09. "Another Girl Another Planet" - The Only Ones
10. "Suspect Device" - Stiff Little Fingers
11. "Mess Of My" - The Fall
12. "Stretcher Case" - The Dammned
13. "Anti-Pope" - King
14. "Read It In Books" - Echo & the Bunnymen
15. "Sus" - The Ruts
16. "A Brand New Life" - Young Marble Giants
17. "Start From Scratch" - The Nightingales
18. "Big Jesus Trash Can" - The Birthday Party
19. "A Matter Of Gender" - The Associates
20. "The Fan And The Bellows" - The Chameleons
21. "Wall Of Fir" - The Very Things
22. "Enchanted" - The Wild Swans
23. "Sun" - Microdisney
24. "Kick Over The Statues" - Redskins
25. "A New England" - Billy Bragg

The Alarm - The Best of The Alarm (1998)

The Alarm are an alternative rock band that emerged from North Wales in the late 1970s. They started as a mod band and stayed together for over ten years. As a rock band, they displayed marked influences from Welsh language and culture. By opening for acts such as U2 and Bob Dylan, they became a popular alternative rock band of the 1980s, retaining a small but loyal following to the present day. (wiki)

The Best of the Alarm is a generous collection, containing all of the Alarm's standards plus several solo cuts from their leader, Mike Peters. All of the group's hits and best album tracks are here, making this an excellent choice for either the curious or the casual fan. A reissue of a collection originally released in 1998, The Best of the Alarm added two new singles — "45 R.P.M." and "Superchannel" — that weren't on the original program. (itunes)

The Best Of The Alarm
1998
THE ALARM
Mike Peters (v), Dave Sharp (g), Eddie Macdonald (b), Nigel Twist (d)

Bit Rate: 320kbps

Track listing

1. "68 Guns" - 3:16
2. "Spirit of '76" - 6:59
3. "Rain In the Summertime" - 3:46
4. "Strength" - 3:34
5. "The Stand" - 2:47
6. "Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke?" - 2:59
7. "Majority" - 3:25
8. "The Deceiver" - 3:34
9. "One Step Closer to Home" - 4:30
10. "Presence of Love" - 3:20
11. "Sold Me Down the River" - 3:01
12. "Rescue Me (Tearing the Bonds Asunder Radio Edit)" - 3:03
13. "Absolute Reality" - 3:26
14. "Unsafe Building (Live)" - 3:47
15. "Knocking On Heaven's Door (Live)" - 4:25
16. "Walk Forever By My Side" - 3:34
17. "A New South Wales" - 3:20
18. "Love Don't Come Easy" - 4:14
19. "Blaze of Glory" - 3:18
20. "45 R.P.M." [The Poppy Fields] - 3:13
21. "Superchannel (Radio Edit)" [The Alarm MMVI] - 2:44

nWu Bonus

"Rescue Me" (Live)
"Absoulte Reality" (Acoustic)
"Strength" (Extended Version)

Videos

"Absoute Reality" (Live)
"One Guitar/Rescue Me" - Reading SUB April 13, 2010

Mike Peters: Vocals, guitars, harmonica - born Michael L Peters, 25 February 1959, Prestatyn, Wales.
Dave Sharp: Guitars - Born David Kitchingman, 28 January 1959, Salford, England.
Eddie Macdonald: Bass - born 1 November 1959, St Asaph, Wales.
Nigel Twist: Drums - born Nigel Buckle, 18 July 1958, Manchester, England.

EMI also released "The Best of The Alarm and Mike Peters":

Echo & The Bunnymen (1987 | 2003 Remastered and Expanded)

Echo & the Bunnymen is the fifth studio album by the British post-punk band Echo & the Bunnymen, and the last with founder member Ian McCulloch and drummer Pete de Freitas. The album was produced by Laurie Latham who recorded the album in Germany, Belgium, London and Liverpool after an aborted attempted at recording the album without de Freitas and with producer Gil Norton. With Latham being an exacting producer and singer Ian McCulloch receiving star treatment and drinking heavily, the recording of the album was more difficult than the band had initially hoped. The album made more use of keyboards than their previous albums, which had been string heavy.

2003 digitally remastered reissue with 7 extra bonus tracks. Echo & the Bunnymen are one of rock's great contributions. Fronted by Ian McCulloch, the Bunnymen deliver consistently excellent recordings, and this self-named 1987 release is no exception. The lyrics alternate between the surreal and delightfully depressing. Always, though, are they delivered in McCulloch's inimitable, heart-achingly earnest style. For the surreal, try: I dream of my days as a desert farmer, Living my life on the fat of the sand. Or for the delightfully depressing, try: All the ghosts have gathered round me, Come to tell me of a change. In the darkness that surrounds me, I am falling down again. And then there's the Bunnymen's music. It's endearingly complex; the songs sound fresh and new with repeated plays. Will Sergeant's guitar work, in particular, is outstanding. "Lips Like Sugar" is the best of the bunch, but all are good. All in Your Mind is full of good old-fashioned angst (I pray, and nothing happens/Jesus, it's all in my mind), and has a killer tune to boot, as does the somewhat Doorsish Bedbugs and Ballyhoo. Lips like Sugar, Bombers Bay, and Blue Blue Ocean are also standouts. All in all, if you like the Bunnymen you should get this album.

Echo & The Bunnymen (Remastered and Expanded)

ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN
2003

Tracklist

1. "The Game" - 3:50
2. "Over You" - 4:01
3. "Bedbugs and Ballyhoo" - 3:28
4. "All In Your Mind" - 4:32
5. "Bombers Day" - 4:22
6. "Lips Like Sugar" - 4:52
7. "Lost and Found" - 3:37
8. "New Direction" - 4:45
9. "Blue Blue Ocean" - 5:08
10. "Satellite" - 3:04
11. "All My Life" - 4:07

 

Bonus Tracks

12. "Jimmy Brown (Early version of Bring On The Dancing Horses)" - 4:07 *
13. "Hole In The Holy" - 4:44
14. "Soul Kitchen" - 3:56
15. "The Game (Acoustic Demo)" - 3:57
16. "Bedbugs and Ballyhoo (Original Version)" - 3:41
17. "Over Your Shoulder" - 4:10
18. "Bring on The Dancing Horses (Extended Mix)" - 5:50

*previously unreleased

CD INLAYS

Modern English - Stop Start (1986 | 2010 Remastered)

Yeah, this was never one of Modern English's best selling albums back in the day when it was issued on tape and vinyl because of advertising, but MAN how the years have progressed and this sounds even BETTER than before!

Fans have long waited for this to be reissued on CD!!!! It's FINALLY here and as CRISP and CLEAR as ever! You can hear the subtle keyboards, fading in and out, sounds I haven't heard before, pounding drums, clean vocals, etc. I got tired of listening to my old worn on cassette tape and vinyl.

Over the years my tape broke and the vinyl got scratched! I was shocked to see this was reissued! Your in for a REAL TREAT if you order this now and hear it either for the first time or again; even after listening to your crusted tape and melted vinyl a million times, you'll still want to hear this remastered!

With this Newly REMASTERED and REISSUED classic 1986 CD; the sound has never been any better!? Long awaited fans and newbie's alike will totally enjoy this from Modern English! If you don't have this CD in your collection yet your really missing out! If you passed this up the first time back in 1986, well now's your chance to go get it in 2010 before possibly never seeing this classic CD again!? Let's hope not!? Check it out, you won't be disappointed!

These Guys have a New Website and are going on tour this summer too! Go check this one out and the new album too! Then go see them on tour! (Amazon by COSMOS)

Modern English will held a concert on Manila on January 2012. 

Stop Start
MODERN ENGLISH
2010

Tracklist

1. "The Border" - 4:08
2. "Ink and Paper" - 3:58
3. "Night Train" - 3:07
4. "I Don’t Know The Answer" - 3:10
5. "Love Breaks Down" - 5:24
6. "Breaking Away" - 4:04
7. "The Greatest Show" - 4:52
8. "Love Forever" - 3:30
9. "Start Stop – Stop Start" - 5:47

 

STOP START LYRICS

Propaganda - Present The Nine Lives of Dr. Mabuse (1984)

The third ZTT release, Propaganda Present the Nine Lives of Dr. Mabuse by the Dusseldorf group Propaganda, represented the next stage in this master plan of raiding the (early, European) twentieth century. "The children of Fritz Lang and Giorgio Moroder" is how NME's Chris Bohn tagged Propaganda. Inspired by Lang's expressionist trilogy of movies about a shadowy master criminal, "Dr. Mabuse" was epic Eurodisco, for which Horn and engineer Steve Lipson constructed a monumental edifice of arching synths and percussion as imposing as marble colonnades.

Propaganda's conceptualist, Ralf Dorper, justified this "very bombastic sound" to ZigZag. "The character Mabuse was symbolizing something extraordinary, something more or less unreal, so we had to have an unreal production." Formerly in metal-bashing pioneers Die Krupps, Dorper was a fanatic cinephile who preferred movies to music. "Cinema is much more inspirational to me," he declared. "It's much more multi-leveled: you have to have a storyline, a setting, a soundtrack."


Present The Nine Lives of Dr. Mabuse
PROPAGANDA
1984
Bit rate: 320kbps

TRACK LISTING

A. Das Testament Des Mabuse
B1. Femme Fatale (The Woman With The Orchid)
B2. (The Ninth Life Of...) Dr. Mabuse

FEMME FATALE LYRICS

Wenn wir entweder ob wir es so d’rauf lassen
Oder ob wir direkt mit dem Stück
Bis reinkommt... mit dem ersten Takt anfangen

[If we either… If we leave it so…
Or shall we directly with the track…
Until it comes in… Start with the first beat]

Before you start you already bleed
Before you start you already bleed
Before you start...

The Railway Children - Gentle Sound (2003)

An album which highlights the 'Best Of ' The Railway Children as chosen by the fans. These tracks span the life of TRC and include Factory, Virgin and the more recent Ether songs. This time however the recordings are largely acoustic. Recorded in Tokyo, Gary Newby has stripped the songs bare and then rebuilt each song with a new enthusiasm, giving each song a completely different and more contemporary feel. Mainly acoustic, giving the album the kind of warmth you'd expect from an MTV unplugged album. Above all though the album gives space for Gary Newby's true vocal depth, reminiscent at times of a young Scott Walker. In addition to the 13 acoustic tracks, there are 2 new (2002) tracks released for the first time.

The Railway Children were just one of a string of successful independent bands poached and groomed for obscurity by the majors in the second half of the '80s. Anyone jonesing for, ironically, something close to the Postcard sound-sparkling guitars, a melancholy, yearning tenor-will swoon for this quietly gorgeous album of acoustic revamps. Three tracks from their sole album for Factory (Reunion Wilderness, 1987) are obvious highlights, especially the irresistible lilt of "Brighter". You'd think, given the Coldplay/Keane hegemony, there'd be an audience for this superior version: gentle, epic music but, here, with a soul. (UNCUT magazine)

Gentle Sound (Acoustic Compilation Album)
THE RAILWAY CHILDREN
2003
Bit rate: 320kbps

[Track Listing]

1. "A Gentle Sound" - 4:00
2. "Every Beat Of The Heart" - 4:10
3. "Big Hands of Freedom" - 3:54
4. "It Won't Be Long" - 3:29
5. "In The Meantime" - 3:14
6. "Brighter" - 4:17
7. "Collide" - 4:06
8. "I Know Tomorrow" - 3:32
9. "A Pleasure" - 4:05
10. "Over & Over" - 4:03
11. "Somewhere South" - 3:37
12. "Peacenik" - 2:46
13. "Monica's Light" - 3:59
14. "Skinship" - 4:26
15. "The Forgotten" - 4:42

Credits

Written & Produced by Gary Newby Words and music Gary Newby / vocals, instruments & mix: Gary Newby / except songs 14 & 15 drums: makoto sakamoto bass: yasper matsson mix: ken takizawa / executive producer: David Bloom All tracks copyright control Gary Newby / cover photography: hiromi newby / sleeve artwork: Gary Newby

Paul Simpson - Man In a Burning Anorak Vol. 1 (2004)

Frontman/songwriter Paul Simpson of The Wild Swans has released two albums worth of previously unreleased songs , in part to raise funds to finish the band's forthcoming album. All for a worthwhile cause.

Man In a Burning Anorak 1 (12 tracks) Unreleased antiques, curios and failed experiments from Paul’s wilderness years.

*Please Note: Recording quality is poor on the home demos Peace Man, Beautiful and Northern Lights.

TRACK LISTING

1. Contact High
2. Electric Sunrise Pt.1
3. Sunken Ships
4. Beautiful French Degenerate
5. Apollo Tomorrow
6. Peace Man (Demo)
7. Astral Girl
8. Beautiful (Demo)
9. Northern Lights (Demo)
10. Ghosts Of The Russian Forest
11. I'm Gone
12. Dark Blossoms

Review

by D.C. Harrison

Volume 1 is essentially a set of previously unused tracks from over the last 20 years or so. With this in mind, sound quality varies greatly. Beautiful was described, according to the sleeve notes, by Shack manager Nathan McGough as the worst sounding demo he’d ever heard, a fact Simpson takes some pride in. Underneath, though, there's a strong melody begging to be reborn in the future. The strongest tracks are, perhaps predictably, those that benefit from the best recordings. Contact High is a solid opener, Apollo Tomorrow is excellent and earned the approval of Ian McCulloch. Astral Girl, meanwhile, was strong enough to almost snare Simpson a record deal alone, before bad luck with greedheads scuppered that idea. Collections of unused tracks are often a decent barometer to a songwriter’s quality control. Judging by this, Simpson's is on the high side. Ghosts Of The Russian Forest and Beautiful French Degenerate are other highlights, the latter featuring a great line of how someone close to you can raise you up even when your friends are against you ('My girl tells me that I'm great/she makes me feel like William Blake').

The Wild Swans - The Coldest Winter for a Hundred Years (2011)

The Coldest Winter for a Hundred Years, finished on 10 September 2010 and already released. Comprise of 16 tracks (13 initially) and features Paul Simpson, Les Pattinson, Ged Quinn, Ricky Maymi, Mike Mooney, Will Sergeant, Henry Priestman, Candie Payne, Steve Beswick and Richard Turvey. 

'For the first time ever I am happy with the results, the unmixed tracks are sounding so good its scary. It may be 20 odd years late but I think we have finally made the definitive Wild Swans masterpiece' - Paul Simpson

The Coldest Winter for a Hundred Years THE WILD SWANS 2011 [Enjoy] 1. Falling To Bits 2. Liquid Mercury 3. Chloroform 4. In Secret 5. English Electric Lightning 6. When Time Stood Still 7. Underwater 8. Intravenous 9. Glow In The Dark 10. My Town 11. Lost At Sea 12. The Bluebell Wood 13. Outro

Tracks In Snow EP
THE WILD SWANS
2009

[Enjoy]

1. Dark Times
2. Disintegrating
3. Poison

English Electric Lightning 7"
THE WILD SWANS
2009

[Enjoy]

1. English Electric Lightning
2. The Coldest Winter For A Hundred Years

Liquid Mercury 7"
THE WILD SWANS
2009

[Enjoy]

1. Liquid Mercury
2. The Wickedest Man In The World

The Wild Swans Live in the Philippines

Liverpool Legendary, The Wild Swans concert held at One Esplanade was a blast. They sang tracks from the "Bringing Home The Ashes - 1988", "Space Flower - 1990" and "The Coldest Winter in a Hundred Year - 2011" albums. Lastly they sang "Whatever Possessed You" which was released by "Care" which of course as the same vocalist. Sadly it ended with the song and the crowd eagerly request for the "Flaming Sword" but I guess 15 songs are too much but as promised, they will be back next year.

The promoter flashed the upcoming concert event, "Modern English back to back with The Icicle Works" will be in the Philippines sometime January next year - More power to you guys!

April Showers - Abandon Ship (1984) + Lyrics

April Showers were a short-lived Glaswegian pop duo comprised of Jonathan Bernstein and Beatrice Colin. Releasing their only known single “Abandon Ship” on Big Star, a subsidiary of Chrysalis, in 1984 it quickly gained a cult following due to it’s sparkling production from Anne Dudley (Art of Noise) and string-heavy arrangements. This quality was echoed on B-side “Everytime We Say Goodbye” with the 12-inch featuring an instrumental of Abandon Ship. - Tunesbag

At the time Abandon Ship was released, she was the girlfriend of James Grant who was then part of Friends Again and later the lead in the acclaimed Love & Money - thevinylvillain

Beatrice Colin is also a novelist who also writes for radio. Her novel, The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite (John Murray), has been published in the UK in July 2008 and in the US as The Glimmer Palace (Riverhead).

Beatrice was born in London and moved to Scotland as a child. After graduating from the University of Glasgow, she worked as a journalist for the arts and features pages of publications including The Scotsman, Sunday Herald and The Guardian. Her first novel, Nude Untitled, (Toby Press, 2000) was short-listed for a Saltire Award. Her second, Disappearing Act (Toby Press, 2001) was published in the US. She has written six plays and dramatised three novels for BBC Radio 4, and her short stories have been broadcast and published in anthologies and literary magazines such as Ontario Review and The London Magazine.

She has taught creative writing for Strathclyde University’s English Studies Dept and for Glasgow University’s Department of Adult and Continuing Education, and completed her doctorate in 2008. She currently works at Strathclyde University as a Royal Literary Fund Fellow. She lives in Glasgow with her two children.

Abandon Ship 7″
1984
APRIL SHOWERS
Jonatahn Bernstein/Beatrice Colin

TRACK LISTING

Side one: Abandon Ship .

Side two: Everytime We Say Goodbye .

Beatrice Colin of April Showers

NWU Bonus

1. "Abandon Ship [Abandon Ship 12" 1984]
2. "Abandon Ship (Instrumental) [Abandon Ship 12" 1984]
3. "Abandon Ship (Extended)"
4. "Contrary To Pular Belief (..I Beg To Differ)" [While The City Sleeps]
5. "Alone Means Perfect" [While The City Sleeps]
6. "Wide Awake:Asleep All Day" [While The City Sleeps]

ABANDON SHIP

Midnight bells are ringing now,

Another year dissolves,

While everybody's hand in hand and singing now,

I don't feel too involved.

Clinging to my seat as others,

Laugh all long and loud,

Oh would you send me someone somewhere,

Who can help me escape from the crowd?

Abandon Ship,

Before my troubles,

Starts to rise above me,

Abandon Ship,

Why don't you come on in?

The water's lovely.

Take my hand and dance with me,

And please don't say a word,

All you have to do is take a chance with me,

I don't know if you've heard?

I might not be here tomorrow,

Might you surely plead,

So why not spend the time that isn't ours to borrow,

And before you speak.

Abandon Ship,

Before my troubles,

Starts to rise above me,

Abandon Ship,

Why don't you come on in?

The water's lovely.

Follow me I know a place where we could be,

All alone for a million years.

We could be,

It only take with destiny,

Close the door,

Make sure that no one hears.

Then one year and out the other,

We're running all our rest,

While everyone around me seems to run for cover,

I can't get out of bed.

Meet me here,

This time next year,

We must do this again,

While everybody else,

Is drowning in their tears,

I still remember when.

Abandon Ship,

Before my troubles,

Starts to rise above me,

Abandon Ship,

Why don't you come on in?

The water's lovely.

Abandon Ship,

Before my troubles,

Starts to rise above me,

Abandon Ship,

Why don't you come on in?

The water's lovely.