The Squire Presents

It was with the release of their third LP that The White Stripes really exploded beyond the confines of the Detroit music scene. The band entered a professional recording studio to record but had only completed a week of rehearsals. Meg was unsure that this was enough time, feeling that more rehearsals were needed. However, Jack was keen to get a real tense feeling and to make the process as disorganised as possible. To save money, the band would use 12 of the 24 tracks on the tape machine to record one song and then the other 12 to record another. Jack also asked recording engineer Stuart Sikes to not make it sound too good. 

This record moved away from the bands blues roots and was more of a garage rock LP. When the album came out, it received mass critical acclaim  as well as their first industry awards. It was also included of many end of year best of lists. 

Like others in this series, disc 1 is the album with period related singles. Disc 2 comes from the ‘White Blood Cells XX’ Vault 48 package from 2021. Disc 3 comprises of the complete sessions recorded for legendary British DJ, John Peel. 

Disc 1

The third album with single A and B sides from 2001 (except Candy Cane Children, Story of the Magi and Silent Night were released in 2002 as a special one off Christmas related single). 

1. Dead Leaves & A Dirty Ground
2. Hotel Yorba
3. I’m Finding It Hard To Be A Gentlemen
4. Fell In Love With A Girl
5. Expecting
6. Little Room
7. The Union Forever
8. The Same Boy You’ve Always Known
9. We’re Going To Be Friends
10. Offend In Every Way
11. I Think I Smell A Rat
12. Aluminum
13. I Can’t Wait
14. Now Mary
15. I Can Learn
16. This Protector
17. Hotel Yorba (Single A-Side – Live At The Hotel Yorba)
18. Rated X (Single B-Side – Live At The Hotel Yorba)
19. Love Sick (Single B-Side – Live At The Forum, London 6th December 2001)
20. Stop Breaking Down (Single B-Side – Live At The BBC Studios, Maida Vale)
21. Red Death 6:14 (Single A-Side)
22. Candy Cane Children (Single A-Side)
23. Story Of The Magi/Silent Night (Single B-Side)

Disc 2

Alternative takes, early versions and outtakes

1. Dead Leaves & A Dirty Ground (Boombox Demo – Take 1)
2. Dead Leaves & A Dirty Ground (Boombox Demo – Take 2)
3. Hotel Yorba (Alternative Take – Live At Hotel Yorba)
4. Fell In Love With A Girl (Alternative Take)
5. The Union Forever (Working Mix)
6. Offend In Every Way (Acoustic Boombox Demo)
7. That’s Where It’s At (Outtake)
8. Ooh-Aah (Demo)
9. I Can’t Wait (Alternative Mix)
10. Hey Mary (Demo)
11. Feel Like I’m Three Feet Tall (Boombox Demo)
12. Rated X (Alternative Take – Live At Hotel Yorba)
13. When I Hear My Name – Live At Headliners, Louisville, KY (9th June 2001)
14. Dear Letter/Grinnin’ In Your Face – Live At Headliners, Louisville, KY (9th June 2001)
15. Lord, Send Me An Angel – Live At Headliners, Louisville, KY (9th June 2001)
16. You’re Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl) – Live At Headliners, Louisville, KY (9th June 2001)
17. Dead Leaves & A The Dirty Ground – Live At Headliners, Louisville, KY (9th June 2001)
18. Hotel Yorba – Live At Headliners, Louisville, KY (9th June 2001)
19. Truth Doesn’t Make A Noise – Live At Headliners, Louisville, KY (9th June 2001)
20. I Think I Smell A Rat – Live At Headliners, Louisville, KY (9th June 2001)
21. Jolene – Live At Headliners, Louisville, KY (9th June 2001)
22. We’re Going To Be Friends – Live At Headliners, Louisville, KY (9th June 2001)
23. Expecting – Live At Headliners, Louisville, KY (9th June 2001)
24. The Union Forever – Live At Headliners, Louisville, KY (9th June 2001)
25. The Same Boy You’ve Always Known
26. Apple Blossom – Live At Headliners, Louisville, KY (9th June 2001)
27. Cannon/John The Revelator – Live At Headliners, Louisville, KY (9th June 2001)
28. Astro – Live At Headliners, Louisville, KY (9th June 2001)
29. Boll Weevil – Live At Headliners, Louisville, KY (9th June 2001)

Disc 3 – Complete John Peel Sessions

1. Let’s Shake Hands – Maida Vale (25th July 2001)
2. When I Hear My Name – Maida Vale (25th July 2001)
3. Jolene – Maida Vale (25th July 2001)
4. Death Letter – Maida Vale (25th July 2001)
5. Cannon – Maida Vale (25th July 2001)
6. Astro/Jack The Ripper – Maida Vale (25th July 2001)
7. Hotel Yorba – Maida Vale (25th July 2001)
8. I’m Finding It Hard To Be A Gentleman – Maida Vale (25th July 2001)
9. Screwdriver – Maida Vale (25th July 2001)
10. We’re Going To Be Friends – Maida Vale (25th July 2001)
11. You’re Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl) – Maida Vale (25th July 2001)
12. Boil Weevil – Maida Vale (25th July 2001)
13. Hello Operator – Maida Vale (25th July 2001)
14. Baby Blue – Maida Vale (25th July 2001)
15. Lord, Send Me An Angel – Peel Acres (8th November 2001)
16. Dead Leaves & the Dirty Ground – Peel Acres (8th November 2001)
17. I Think I Smell A Rat – Peel Acres (8th November 2001)
18. Let’s Build A House/Goin’ Back To Memphis – Peel Acres (8th November 2001)
19. Little Room – Peel Acres (8th November 2001)
20. The Union Forever – Peel Acres (8th November 2001)
21. The Same Boy You’ve Always Known – Peel Acres (8th November 2001)
22. Look Me Over Closely – Peel Acres (8th November 2001)
23. Looking At Your – Peel Acres (8th November 2001)
24. St James Infirmary Blues – Peel Acres (8th November 2001)
25. Apple Blossom – Peel Acres (8th November 2001)
26. Do – Peel Acres (8th November 2001)
27. Rated X – Peel Acres (8th November 2001)
28. Jumble Jumble – Peel Acres (8th November 2001)
29. Little People – Peel Acres (8th November 2001)

Another album celebrating its 55th Anniversary this month is Derek & The Dominos, and their classic ‘Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs’ LP. I have made no secret of how much I love this album and I posted what I would have considered a good deluxe version of the album here (https://www.thesquirepresents.co.uk/derek-the-dominos/) as well as an attempt at what their second LP could have sounded like (https://www.thesquirepresents.co.uk/derek-the-dominos-cant-sleep-at-night-unreleased-2nd-album/).

I have also made my feelings known about how artists and (more likely) their respective record companies should really be the last people to actually curate box sets for their marquee artists. That is because they do seem intent just to peddle the same old tracks over multiple formats in the hope that fans will once again put they hands in their pockets, especially with the prospect of at least some new material they have not heard before (at least legitimately). 

The ‘Layla’ album being a case in point. Even though it was not a massive seller on its original release, the album has pretty much never been out of print, no doubt aided by the enduing popularity of the title song. I remember buying the first CD reissue back in the late 80s and it sounded terrible. It was like someone at the record company decided that it needed to come out on that format, but did so with the first tape that they could find. It sounded muddy, there was a load of hiss and it was released as a double CD even though the songs would easily fit onto one disc. 

When 1990 and the 20th anniversary of its original released rolled around, a three disc set came out where the album was completely remastered and remixed from the session master tapes. Compared to the previous effort, it sounded was amazing. Hidden depths were found, but it did change some of the original production decisions. For example, the producers of the reissue moved the bass guitar from the left hand side of the mix (a standard thing to do at that time) and put it in the centre. The set also included numerous jams, sessions outtakes and could be considered the first deluxe edition of any album. That 1990 mix has also been ‘forgotten’ about and apart from a reissue of this set in Japan in 2009, that edition has been superseded by the 40th Anniversary set that came out in 2011, which was actually the 41st anniversary. Oh well.

That 40th Anniversary Edition did give the buyer a 5.1 surround mix of the record, which was great. It also included the soundtrack to the bands appearance the Johnny Cash show, but not the visuals. This is a shame as this was their only TV appearance anywhere. There were tracks from the aborted second album sessions, only one of which had not been released before. There was also a vinyl pressing as well as a two discs of the band In Concert LP with some bonus material that had also been released before. This was also a shame as this could have been an opportunity to release the whole concert, not just edited highlights. It was nice to have the second album sessions included but, this was meant to be a celebration of ‘Layla’. There was some recordings from those sessions that have seen the light of day illegitimately so why could these have not been included, or some material that was on the 1990 box set which would have be nice for anyone who missed out on that set back in the day. 

There was the 50th Anniversary set, but in my opinion, this was the worst kind of cash grab possible. There was less material on here than on the 1990 set and 40th anniversary edition. None of it was previously unreleased and the only selling point I could see was that it came as a four LP set so vinyl lovers could get songs that had otherwise been available on CD only. 

So what I am looking to present here is the most comprehensive box set that I could put together with the material at hand. Well, there are three versions of the ‘Layla’ album. The original 1970s mix along with the remixes from 1990 and 2011. Then we come to some discs of outtakes from the Layla Sessions. These includes all nearly of the bonus material from the 1990 set as well as some other material that has come to light thanks to bootleggers. Disc 4 includes the bands first, withdrawn single which was the fast version of ‘Tell The Truth’ backed by ‘Roll It Over’. The UK single edit of ‘Layla’ also has a home here. There are also two discs of jams which shows the band, plus guests stitching their musical muscles. 

We then move on to two discs of sessions that were completed for the second album that was never finished. Judging by what was recorded, there wasn’t any real hope of salvaging an LP from these sessions unless more work was carried out as only a handful of the tracks could be considered finished masters. What were have are a few jams, instrumentals and contributions from Jim Gordon, which I am surprised have not seen the light legitimately before. I have also included the mono promo single mix of the withdrawn single ‘Tell The Truth’ backed with ‘Roll It Over’. 

This is not where the story of Derek & the Dominos stops though. Clapton brought the band together during the sessions for George Harrison’s album, ‘All Things Must Pass’. Now, there are only a couple of songs where the entire band appears but I thought that if Eric Clapton and one other Domino was on a song, it should be included and so we get two discs of sessions where the band, or at least some guested on other people records. These also include Dr John’s ‘The Sun, Moon & Herbs’ two from Leon Russell (‘Leon Russell’ and ‘Leon Russell & the Shelter People’) as well as P.P. Arnold’s ‘The Turning Tide’. Dominos keyboard player Bobby Whitlock also released his first two solo albums in the early 70s, both of which contained contributions from his fellow band members so all of these were included.

I also decided to include a version of Eric Clapton solo album on this box set as well. That was because even though the Dominos were not a thing at this time, all of the members were on this record as they were all members of the Delaney & Bonnie band. Now, in 2021, there was a reissue of Clapton’s debut album with three different mixes on it as well as singles, alternative versions and session outtakes. However there was one version of the album that did not appear here and that was the Mono mix that was sent out to DJ’s. That has never been reissued anywhere as far as I can tell so I thought it would be a nice inclusion. There is also a disc of alternative mixes, most of which have never been released as well. Once again, these are the sort of thing that should have been included on the 2021 box set, but the record company decided to fleece the fans instead of giving them a substandard reissue. 

Finally, we have four discs of live performances, Two of these are the complete concerts from the Filmore East that were recorded on the bands US tour. The band sound great and this was when live albums gave you something more than just a reproduction of what was on the record. It also includes the rare live single version of ‘Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?’ and the complete Johnny Cash Show. This was the only place I had room to include the band rehearsing ‘Mean Old World’, an outtake from the first album sessions and the stereo single mix of ‘Tell The Truth’.

To round out the set, there are two Blu-ray discs. The first is the ‘Layla’ album in a 5.1 Surround Sound mix. This was included in the 2011 box set on DVD so it would be nice to have it on the higher resolution format. This also includes ‘Mean Old World’, just as the 2011 disc. The second Blu-ray is all of the recordings that have been made available from the 1969 Delaney & Bonnie and Friends tour which Eric Clapton was on. Included in the band were Jim Gordon, Bobby Whitlock and Carl Radle so we have the complete Dominos line up on all of these live performances. 

Would this box set ever see the light of day? Not bloody likely especially as it contains the majority of the ‘All Things Must Pass’ album. Is this really the complete sessions? I suspect there is something that I have missed or is still lurking in an archive somewhere that has yet to see the light of day. What all this music shows is how much material these guys played on in a very short space of time and how much of a crying shame it is that inter-band tensions, drug use and/or personal problems lead to their break up. One of the great all time lost bands. 

There are a number of songs that have been included on this set, but the involvement of Clapton and at least one other Dominos cannot be determined. These include the tracks on the deluxe edition of the Buddy Guy & Junior Wells LP, ‘Play The Blues’. I did include ‘Only You Know & I Know’ by Dave Mason because the rhythm section is definitely Carl Radle and Jim Gordon, but Clapton’s involvement has yet to be confirmed even though the lead guitar does sound like him. The same with Doris Troy’s ‘So Far’ which did include Whitlock and Gordon, and Clapton is said to have taken part in these sessions as they were produced by George Harrison. Jim Gordon and Carl Radle were also members of Joe Cocker’s ‘Mad Dogs & Englishmen’ tour, recordings of which take up Disc 20 of this set. 

Disc 1 – Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs (Original 1970 Mix)

1. I Looked Away
2. Bell Bottom Blues
3. Keep On Growing
4. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
5. I Am Yours
6. Anyway
7. Key To The Highway
8. Tell The Truth
9. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?
10. Have You Ever Loved A Woman?
11. Little Wing
12. It’s Too Late
13. Layla
14. Thorn Tree In A Garden

Disc 2 – Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs (1990 Remix)

1. I Looked Away
2. Bell Bottom Blues
3. Keep On Growing
4. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
5. I Am Yours
6. Anyway
7. Key To The Highway
8. Tell The Truth
9. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?
10. Have You Ever Loved A Woman?
11. Little Wing
12. It’s Too Late
13. Layla
14. Thorn Tree In A Garden

Disc 3 – Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs (2011 Remaster)

1. I Looked Away
2. Bell Bottom Blues
3. Keep On Growing
4. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
5. I Am Yours
6. Anyway
7. Key To The Highway
8. Tell The Truth
9. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?
10. Have You Ever Loved A Woman?
11. Little Wing
12. It’s Too Late
13. Layla
14. Thorn Tree In A Garden

Disc 4 – 1st Album Sessions

1. I Looked Away (Alt Version)
2. Bell Bottom Blues (Instrumental Mix)
3. Keep On Growing (Basic Track)
4. Nobody Knows You when You’;re Down & Out (Instrumental Mix)
5. Anyway (Alt. Version)
6. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad? (Alt. Take 1)
7. Have You Ever Loved A Woman? (Alt. Version 1)
8. It’s Too Late (Alt. Master)
9. Layla (Alt Vocal/Guitar Overdub)
10. Mean Old World (Band Version)
11. Tender Love (Incomplete Master)
12. Have You Ever Loved A Woman? (Alt. Version 2)
13. Why Does Love Got To be So Dad? (Alt. Take 2)
14. Mean Old World (Duet Version)
15. Layla (1972 UK Single Edit)
16. Tell The Truth (Single Version 2011 Master)
17. Roll It Over (2011 Master)

Disc 5 – 1st Album Sessions Jams I

1. (When Things go Wrong) It Hurts Me Too
2. Jam I
3. Jam II
4. Jam III
5. Jam IV
6. Jam V

Disc 6 – 1st Album Session Jams II

1. Tell The Truth (Jam #1)
2. Jam VI
3. Jam VII
4. Jam VIII
5. Jam IX
6. Tell The Truth (Jam #2)

Disc 7 – Second Album Sessions I

1. Evil (Abrupt Ending Mix)
2. I’ve Been All Day
3. Got To Get Better In A Little While (Crossroad Mix)
4. It’s Hard To Find A Friend
5. Son Of Apache
6. Jim’s Song
7. Chocolate
8. One More Chance
9. Sick At Heart
10. ‘Till I See You Again
11. Is My Love
12. High
13. Mean Old Frisco
14. Snake Lake Blues (Major Key)
15. Devil’s Road
16. Got To get Better In A Little While (2011 Single Version)
17. It’s Hard To Find A Friend Session #1

Disc 8 – Second Album Sessions II

1. Evil (Fade Out Mix)
2. Got To Get Better In A Little While (Alt. Slower Version)
3. Instrumental #1
4. It’s Hard To Find A Friends Session #2
5. Mean Old Frisco (Instrumental)
6. One More Chance (Instrumental)
7. Snake Lake Blues (Minor Key)
8. Moody Jam
9. Instrumental #2
10. Evil (Instrumental)
11. Got To Get Better in A Little While (Jam)
12. Snake Lake Blues (Major Key/Count In)
13. Tell The Truth (Mono Promo Single Mix)
14. Roll It Over (Mono Promo Single Mix)

Disc 9 – Sessions I

1. My Sweet Lord – George Harrison
2. Let It Down – George Harrison
3. Hear Me Lord – George Harrison
4. Run Of The Mill – George Harrison
5. Isn’t It A Pity (Version 2) – George Harrison
6. Awaiting On You All – George Harrison
7. I Dig Love – George Harrison
8. Art Of Dying – George Harrison
9. What Is Life – George Harrison
10. Beware Of Darkness – George Harrison
11. All Things Must Pass – George Harrison
12. Isn’t It A Pity (Take 14) – George Harrison
13. I’d Have You Anytime (Take 5) – George Harrison
14. Wah-Wah (Take 1) – George Harrison
15. What Is Life (Take 1) – George Harrison
16. Beware Of Darkness (Take 8) – George Harrison
17. Hear Me Lord (Take 5) – George Harrison
18. Isn’t It A Pity (Take 27) – George Harrison

Disc 10 – Sessions II

1. Thanks For The Pepperoni – George Harrison
2. Out Of The Blue – George Harrison
3. What Is Life (Backing Track) – George Harrison
4. Plug Me In – George Harrison
5. Run Of The Mill (Take 36) – George Harrison
6. Where There’s A Will – Bobby Whitlock
7. Song For Paula – Bobby Whitlock
8. A Game Called Life – Bobby Whitlock
9. Country Life – Bobby Whitlock
10. A Day Without Jesus – Bobby Whitlock
11. Back In My Life Again – Bobby Whitlock
12. The Scenery Has Slowly Changed – Bobby Whitlock
13. The Dreams Of A Hobo – Bobby Whitlock
14. Back Home In England – Bobby Whitlock
15. I’d Rather Live The Straight Life – Bobby Whitlock
16. Hello L.A., Bye Bye Birmingham – Bobby Whitlock

Disc 11 – Session III

1. Only You Know & I Know – Dave Mason
2. Right Now – Billy Preston
3. Use What You Got – Billy Preston
4. Encouraging Words – Billy Preston
5. A Man Of Many Words – Buddy Guy & Junior Wells
6. Jammin’ With Eric – Leon Russell
7. Alcatraz – Leon Russell
8. Beware of Darkness – Leon Russell
9. The New Sweat Home Chicago – Leon Russell
10. Prince Of Peace – Leon Russell
11. Medicated Goo – P.P. Arnold
12. Brand New Day – P.P. Arnold
13. You Can’t Always Get What You Want – P.P. Arnold
14. Teasin’ – King Curtis
15. Black John The Conqueror – Dr.John
16. Where Ya At Mule – Dr.John
17. Familiar Reality (Opening) – Dr.John
18. Familiar Reality (Reprise) – Dr.John

Disc 12 – Eric Clapton 1st Solo Album I

1. Slunky (Mono Mix)
2. Bad Boy (Mono Mix)
3. Lonesome & A Long Way From Home (Mono Mix)
4. After Midnight (Mono Mix)
5. Easy Now (Mono Mix)
6. Blues Power (Mono Mix)
7. Bottle Of Red Wine (Mono Mix)
8. Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me (Mono Mix)
9. Told You For The Last Time (Mono Mix)
10. Don;t Know Why (Mono Mix)
11. Let It Rain (Mono Mix)
12. Coming Home – Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
13. Groupie (Superstar) – Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
14. I Don’t Know Why (Olympic Studios Version)
15. I’ve Told You For The Last Time (Olympic Studios Version)
16. She Rides (Let It Rain – Original Version)

Disc 13 – Eric Clapton 1st Solo Album II

1. Bad Boy (Alternate Mix #1 with Different Vocal Take 1)
2. Lonesome And A Long Way From Home (Alternate Mix #1)
3. After Midnight (Alternate Mix #1)
4. Easy Now (Alternate Mix #1)
5. Blues Power (Alternate Mix)
6. Bottle Of Red Wine (Alternate Mix with Additional Guitar)
7. Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me (Alternate Mix #1)
8. Told You For The Last Time (Alternate Mix)
9. Don’t Know Why (Alternate Mix)
10. Bad Boy (Alternate Mix #2 with Different Vocal Take 2)
11. Lonesome And A Long Way From Home (Alternate Mix #2)
12. After Midnight (Alternate Mix #2)
13. Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me (Alternate Mix #2)
14. Where There’s A Will There’s A Way (1st Solo Album 1st Session)
15. Comin’ Home – Delany & Bonnie (Alternative Version)
16. Blues In “A”

Disc 14 – Derek & the Dominos Live 

1. Got To Get Back In A Little While
2. Key To The Highway
3. Tell The Truth
4. Why Does Love For To Be So Sad?
5. Blues Power
6. Have You Ever Loved A Woman?

Disc 15 – Derek & the Dominos Live

1. Presence Of The Lord
2. Little Wing
3. Let It Rain
4. Crossroads
5. Bottle Of Red Wine
6. Mean Old World (Studio Rehearsal)
7. Tell The Truth (Stereo Single Mix)
8. Roll It Over (Stereo Single Mix)

Disc 16 – Derek & the Dominos Live 

1. Got To Get Better In A Little While
2. Tell The Truth
3. Nobody Knows When You’re Down & Out
4. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?
5. Presence Of The Lord
6. Blues Power
7. Have You Ever Loved A Woman?
8. Key To The Highway

Disc 17 – Derek & the Dominos Live

1. Bottle Of Red Wine
2. Roll It Over
3. Let It Rain
4. Little Wing
5. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad? (Live Single Edit)
6. It’s Too Late (Live on The Johnny Cash Show)
7. Matchbox (Live on The Johnny Cash Show)
8. Got To Get Better In A Little While (Live on The Johnny Cash Show)
9. Blues Power (Live on The Johnny Cash Show)

Disc 18 – Layla 5.1 Surround Sound (Blu-ray)

1. I Looked Away
2. Bell Bottom Blues
3. Keep On Growing
4. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
5. I Am Yours
6. Anyway
7. Key To The Highway
8. Tell The Truth
9. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?
10. Have You Ever Loved A Woman?
11. Little Wing
12. It’s Too Late
13. Layla
14. Thorn Tree In A Garden
15. Mean Old World

Disc 19 – Delaney & Bonnie and Friends Live (Blu-ray)

Part A – Royal Albert Hall, London 1st December 1969 

1. Intro/Tuning
2. Opening Jam
3. Gimme Some Lovin’
4. Band Introductions
5. Only You Know & I Know
6. Poor Elijah/Tribute To Robert Johnson
7. Get Ourselves Together
8. I Don’t Know Why
9. Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way
10. That’s What My Man Is For
11. Pour Your Love On Me/Just Plain Beautiful
12. Everybody Loves A Winner
13. Things Get better
14. Coming Home
15. I Don’t Want To Discuss it
16. Tutti Frutti/The Girl Can’t Help It/Long Tall Sally/Jenny Jenny
17. My Baby Specialises

Part B – Colston Hall, Bristol 2nd December 1969

1. Intro/Tuning
2. Opening Jam
3. Gimme Some Loving
4. Things Get Better
5. Poor Elijah/Tribute To Robert Johnson
6. I Don’t Know Why
7. Pour Your Love On Me/Just Plain Beautiful
8. Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way
9. Coming Home
10. Tutti Frutti/The Girl Can’t Help It/Long Tall Sally/Jenny Jenny
11. I Don’t Want To Discuss it
12. Crowd/Announcement

Part C – Fairfield Halls, Croydon, 7th December 1969 (1st Show)

1. Intro/Tuning
2. Gimme Some Lovin’
3. Introduction
4. Things Get Better
5. Poor Elijah/Tribute To Robert Johnson
6. I Don’t Know Why
7. Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way
8. That’s What My Man Is For
9. I Don’t Want To Discuss It
10. Coming Home

Part D – Fairfield Halls, Croydon, 7th December 1969 (2nd Show)

1. Intro/Tuning
2. Gimme Some Lovin’
3. Pigmy
4. Introductions
5. Things Get Better
6. Poor Elijah/Tribute To Robert Johnson
7. Only You Know & I Know
8. Will The Circle Be Unbroken
9. Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way
10. I Don’t Know Why
11. That;’s What My Man Is For
12. Coming Home
13. Tutti Frutti/The Girl Can’t Help It/Long Tall Sally/Jenny Jenny

Part E – Falcon Theatre, Copenhagen 10th December 1969

1. Poor Elijah/Tribute To Robert Johnson
2. I Don’t Know Why
3. Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way
4. Special Life
5. I Don’t Want To Discuss it
6. That’s What My Man Is For
7. Coming Home
8. Tutti Frutti/The Girl Can’t Help It/Long Tall Sally/Jenny Jenny

Part F – Falcon Theatre, Copenhagen 12th December 1969

1. Poor Elijah/Tribute To Robert Johnson
2. I Don’t Know Why
3. Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way
4. Special Life
5. I Don’t Want To Discuss it
6. That’s What My Man Is For
7. Coming Home

Disc 20 – Mad Dogs & Englishmen: The Complete Fillmore East Concerts (Blu-ray)

Friday March 27, 1970, early show:

1. Honky Tonk Women
2. Let’s Go Get Stoned
3. Sticks & Stones
4. Bird On A Wire
5. Cry Me a River
6. Superstar
7. Delta Lady
8. Something
9. Feelin’ Alright
10. Blues Medley (I’ll Drown In My Own Tears/When Something Is Wrong with My Baby/I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
11. Space Captain
12. The Letter
13. Girl from The North Country

Friday March 27, 1970, late show:

1. Honky Tonk Women
2. She Came In Through the Bathroom Window
3. Let’s Go Get Stoned
4. Bird On A Wire
5. Cry Me A River
6. Superstar
7. Feelin’ Alright
8. Something
9. Sticks & Stones
10. Blues Medley (I’ll Drown In My Own Tears/When Something Is Wrong with My Baby/I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
11. Space Captain
12. Hummingbird 
13. Dixie Lullaby
14. Delta Lady
15. The Letter
16. With A Little Help From My Friends

Saturday March 28, 1970, early show:

1. Honky Tonk Women
2. She Came In Through the Bathroom Window
3. Sticks & Stones
4. Bird On A Wire
5. Cry Me A River
6. Superstar
7. Feelin’ Alright
8. Something
9. Space Captain
10. Let It Be
11. Delta Lady
12. The Letter
13. Blues Medley (I’ll Drown In My Own Tears/When Something Is Wrong with My Baby/I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
14. Give Peace A Chance

Saturday March 28, 1970, late show:

1. Honky Tonk Women
2. She Came In Through the Bathroom Window
3. The Weight
4. Cry Me A River
5. Further On Up The Road
6. Darling Be Home Soon
7. Space Captain
8. Superstar
9. Delta Lady
10. Let’s Go Get Stoned
11. Sticks & Stones
12. Let It Be
13. Feelin’ Alright
14. Something
15. The Letter
16. Give Peace A Chance
17. Blues Medley (I’ll Drown In My Own Tears/When Something Is Wrong with My Baby/I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
18. With A Little Help From My Friends

The artwork is taken from the bootleg album, ‘The Last Sessions’ but i have just changed the title. 

With thanks to Andrew Wild and his book, ‘Sessions – Eric Clapton’ for filling in the blanks. 

November 1970 saw the release of two albums. One was from an established guitar player looking to regain some anonymity whilst the other was from a solo artists trying to escape from it. We will come back the the first artist in the next post this month. The second though was a certain David Bowie. 

Continuing on from last years What-If Super Deluxe Box Set of Bowie’s 1969 album, I thought it was time to have a look at the follow up as it is celebrating it 55th anniversary. That record was  ‘The Man Who Sold The World’. Thinking back to last year, what I enjoyed most about the 2019 ‘Conversation Piece’ box set was the inclusion of numerous demo recording that Bowie had made between 1968 and 1969. 2021’s ‘The Width of a Circle’ box, which was the companion piece to ‘The Man Who Sold the World’ was a more sparse affair. ‘Conversation Piece’ was a lush five disc set, but ‘The Width of a Circle’ only included two. There was also a complete lack of demos. So what are we left with to produce this deluxe box set?

Well, we have the original 1970 album mix and three remasters of the album. Both the 1990 Rykosic and 2015 remasters are both included, but like on the ‘David Bowie’ box from last year, there is not much difference in the mixes for my untrained ears. 2020 did see a nearly whole album remix by Tony Visconti that was released under the albums supposed original name of ‘Metrobolist’. Only the song ‘After All’ was spared from the remix treatment as Visconit felt that the 2015 remaster was perfect as it was. 

There are two BBC sessions. Some of these were released back in 2000 as part of the ‘Bowie at the Beeb’ set, but unlike that compilation which had highlights of the shows, these are now complete. We are lucky to have the The Sunday Show from 5th February 1970, as the BBC in its infinite wisdom did not keep a copy. This was recorded off of the radio by Tony Visconti. Where as that show focused a lot on material that Bowie had recorded for his 1969 album, the second BBC session, recorded less than two months later previews material that would mostly appear on ‘The Man Who Sold the World’. The exception being a cover of ‘Waiting for the Man’ by the Velvet Underground. 

We also have the songs Bowie contributed to the televised version of Lindsay Kemp’s pantomime, ‘Pierrot in Turquoise’. This was only broadcast in Scotland and even though Bowie had had a hit with ‘Space Oddity’ he was not quite the household name. Bowie contributed four songs.’When I Live My Dream’ which had been performed in the original stage production back in 1967. ‘Columbine’ and ‘Harlequin’ were composed specifically for the TV performance. ‘Threepenny Pierrot’ was a rewrite of ‘London Bye, Ta-Ta’, a song that Bowie had first recorded back in 1968 and re-recorded a number of times until 1970. 

The remainder are mixes of songs and single versions. Once again, this is a more comprehensive box set of the album and shows that if the artist or a record label had had the inclination, they could have produced this for themselves. The material was out there. I suspect there is a bit more in the archive, such as demos, which we will no doubt never hear. Shame.    

Disc 1 – 1970 Album Mix & Singles

1. The Width Of A Circle
2. All The Madmen
3. Black Country Rock
4. After All
5. Running Gun Blues
6. Saviour Machine
7. She Shook Me Cold
8. The Man Who Sold The World
9. The Superman
10. The Prettiest Star (Original Mono Single Version)
11. Holy Holy (Original Mono Single Version)
12. Memory Of A Free Festival (Part 1) (Single Version)
13. Memory Of A Free Festival (Part 2) (Single Version)

Disc 2 – 1990 Remaster & BBC Session

1. The Width Of A Circle
2. All The Madmen
3. Black Country Rock
4. After All
5. Running Gun Blues
6. Saviour Machine
7. She Shook Me Cold
8. The Man Who Sold The World
9. The Superman
10. London Bye, Ta-Ta (1970 Stereo Mix/2021 Remaster)
11. Waiting For The Man (Sounds of the Seventies: Andy Ferris Show – 25th March 1970)
12. The Width Of A Circle (Sounds of the Seventies: Andy Ferris Show – 25th March 1970)
13. The Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud (Sounds of the Seventies: Andy Ferris Show – 25th March 1970)
14. The Superman (Sounds of the Seventies: Andy Ferris Show – 25th March 1970)

Disc 3 – 2015 Remaster 

1. The Width Of A Circle
2. All The Madmen
3. Black Country Rock
4. After All
5. Running Gun Blues
6. Saviour Machine
7. She Shook Me Cold
8. The Man Who Sold The World
9. The Superman
10. Holy Holy (Mono 2015 Remaster)
11. Memory Of A Free Festival (Part 1) (Single Version 2015 Remaster)
12. Memory Of A Free Festival (Part 2) (Single Version 2015 Remaster)
13. The Prettiest Star (Stereo Version)
14. London, Bye, Ta Ta (Stereo Version)
15. The Prettiest Star (Alt Mix)
16. London Bye, Ta-Ta (Alt Stereo Mix)

Disc 4 – 2020 Remixes & Sessions

1. The Width Of A Circle (Metrobolist)
2. All The Madmen (Metrobolist)
3. Black Country Rock (Metrobolist)
4. After All (Metrobolist)
5. Running Gun Blues (Metrobolist)
6. Saviour Machine (Metrobolist)
7. She Shook Me Cold (Metrobolist)
8. The Man Who Sold The World (Metrobolist)
9. The Superman (Metrobolist)
10. The Prettiest Star (2020 Mix)
11. London Bye, Ta-Ta (2020 Mix)
12. Memory Of A Free Festival (Single Version 2020 Mix)
13. All The Madmen (Single Edit 2020 Mix)
14. Holy Holy (2020 Mix)
15. London Bye, Ta-Ta (2021 Remaster)

Disc 5 – BBC Sessions

1. Amsterdam (The Sunday Show Introduced by John Peel – 5th February 1970)
2. God Knows I’m Good (The Sunday Show Introduced by John Peel – 5th February 1970)
3. Buzz The Fuzz (The Sunday Show Introduced by John Peel – 5th February 1970)
4. Karma Man (The Sunday Show Introduced by John Peel – 5th February 1970)
5. London Bye, Ta-Ta (The Sunday Show Introduced by John Peel – 5th February 1970)
6. An Occasional Dream (The Sunday Show Introduced by John Peel – 5th February 1970)
7. The Width Of A Circle (The Sunday Show Introduced by John Peel – 5th February 1970)
8. Janine (The Sunday Show Introduced by John Peel – 5th February 1970)
9. Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud (The Sunday Show Introduced by John Peel – 5th February 1970)
10. Unwashed & Somewhat Slightly Dazed (The Sunday Show Introduced by John Peel – 5th February 1970)
11. Fill You Heart (The Sunday Show Introduced by John Peel – 5th February 1970)
12. The Prettiest Star (The Sunday Show Introduced by John Peel – 5th February 1970)
13. Cygnet Committee (The Sunday Show Introduced by John Peel – 5th February 1970)
14. Memory of a Free Festival (The Sunday Show Introduced by John Peel – 5th February 1970)
15. When I Live My Dream (The Looking Glass Murders: AKA Pierrot in Turquoise)
16. Columbine (The Looking Glass Murders: AKA Pierrot in Turquoise)
17. Harlequin (AKA The MIrror) (The Looking Glass Murders: AKA Pierrot in Turquoise)
18. Threepenny Pierrot (The Looking Glass Murders: AKA Pierrot in Turquoise)
19. When I Live My Dream (Reprise) (The Looking Glass Murders: AKA Pierrot in Turquoise)

I did not include all of the variations of this album, especially not the RCA CD release from the early 1980s which I have not heard, but is meant to be terrible. I am sure that there is the odd stray track out there that I did not include as it was most probably hidden on an obscure compilation somewhere. Please let me know in the comments if I have done so. However, this just goes to show what could have been produced if Bowie or his record labels had taken the time and care to produce one of these for the 50th Anniversary back in 2020. Another missed opportunity I feel.

With the end of the month fast approaching, it is therefore time to share another Flying Vinyl Sampler compilation, with this one covering the year of 2019. 

Side A

1. Jean – Cassette
2. Lennox Hill – Thyla
3. I Still Need It – Novacab
4. Fade – Vistas
5. To Be Brave – Bride
6. Shallow – SPINN

Side B

1. Would You Rather Be Lonely? – Red Rum Cub
2. Good Girls Do Bad Things – Lucia & The Best Boys
3. Louder – Valeras
4. The Mapping Of Dandruff – Indoor Pets
5. Propaganda Machine – Vant
6. Lullaby – Something Leather
7. Monsters – Seafret

Side C

1. You & Me Baby – Pelicandy
2. Real Love – Jagara
3. Honey I’m Around – Weird Milk
4. Not The Same – Lacuna Common
5. On The Radio – Vinyl Staircase
6. In My Heart – Dead Nature

Side D

1. Aphrodite – Honey Gentry
2. Across The Pond – Mystic Peach
3. Perform For You – Brooke Bentham
4. You Got It Good – Annabel Album
5. Never Let Go – Whenyoung
6. Settle Down – Dahlia Sleeps

Between the release of their first and second LPs, the White’s had divorced with Jack thinking the band was over. However, Meg pursued him that they could keep working together. Recorded in Jack White’s living room on an eight track analogue tape machine, this was named after the Dutch art movement of the same name. Translated into English, it means ‘The Style’. The group also released a stand along single of Captain Beefheart covers. 

For this, the second volume in our White Stripes deluxe series, Disc 1 consists of the LP along with period singles. The studio tracks on Disc 2 were originally released as ‘De Stijl XX’, with the live tracks on the Third Man Records Vault package, ‘Live In Detroit’ fro 2017. Disc 3 was originally released as ‘Live Under The Lights of the Rising Sun’ as part of Vault package 21 from 2014.

Disc 1

The second album with single A and B sides from 2000

1. You’re Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl)
2. Hello Operator
3. Little Bird
4. Apple Blossom
5. I’m Bound To Pack It Up
6. Death Letter
7. Sister, Do You Know My Name?
8. Truth Doesn’t Make A Noise
9. A Boy’s Beat Friend
10. Let’s Build A Home
11. Jumble, Jumble
12. Why Can’t You be Nicer To Me
13. Your Southern Can Is Mine
14. Jolene (Single B-Side – Studio Version)
15. Lord, Send Me An Angel Down (Single A-Side)
16. You’re Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl) (Single B-Side – Trendy American Remix)
17. Party of Special Things To Do (Single A-Side)
18. China Pig (Single B-Side)
19. Ashtray Heart (Single B-Side)
20. Rated X (Single A-Side – TMR312 Version)

Rated X was listed as the same on this single and the XX version but they are actually different. 

Disc 2

Alternative takes, early versions, outtakes and a live concert

1. Truth Doesn’t Make A Noise (Acoustic Demo)
2. A Boy’s Best friend (Acoustic Demo)
3. Sister, Do You Know May Name? (Acoustic Demo)
4. I’m Bound To Pack It Up (Acoustic Demo)
5. Expecting (Acoustic Demo)
6. Vanilla Fields (Acoustic Demo)
7. You’re Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl) (Take 2)
8. Sister, Do You Know My Name? (Acoustic Demo)
9. You’re Right, I’m Wrong (Live Direct To Acetate)
10. You Southern Can Is Mine (Outtake)
11. I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself (Live Direct To Acetate)
12. Rated X (De Still XX Version)
13. You’re Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl) – Live: Detroit (18th August 2000)
14. When I Hear My Name – Live: Detroit (18th August 2000)
15. Jolene – Live: Detroit (18th August 2000)
16. Cannon/John The Revelator – Live: Detroit (18th August 2000)
17. Apple Blossom – Live: Detroit (18th August 2000)
18. Dead Leaves & The Dirty Ground – Live: Detroit (18th August 2000)
19. Death Letter – Live: Detroit (18th August 2000)
20. Little Bird – Live: Detroit (18th August 2000)
21. Jimmy The Exploder – Live: Detroit (18th August 2000)
22. I’m Bound To Pack It Up – Live: Detroit (18th August 2000)
23. Broken Bricks – Live: Detroit (18th August 2000)
24. Hello Operator – Live: Detroit (18th August 2000)
25. Astro/Jack The Ripper – Live: Detroit (18th August 2000)
26. Ashtray Heart – Live: Detroit (18th August 2000)
27. Do – Live: Detroit (18th August 2000)
28. Let’s Shake Hands – Live: Detroit (18th August 2000)

Disc 3

Two live concerts

1. You’re Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl) – Live: Shinjuku, Club Urga (27th October 2000)
2. When I Hear My Name – Live: Shinjuku, Club Urga (27th October 2000)
3. Jolene – Live: Shinjuku, Club Urga (27th October 2000)
4. Lord Send Me An Angel – Live: Shinjuku, Club Urga (27th October 2000)
5. You’re Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl) – Live: Shinjuku, Club Urga (27th October 2000)
6. Hello Operator – Live: Shinjuku, Club Urga (27th October 2000)
7. Death Letter – Live: Shinjuku, Club Urga (27th October 2000)
8. Astro/I Like Jayne Mansfield/Jack The Ripper – Live: Shinjuku, Club Urga (27th October 2000)
9. Cannon/John The Revelator – Live: Shinjuku, Club Urga (27th October 2000)
10. Dead Leaves & The Dirty Ground – Live: Shinjuku, Club Urga (27th October 2000)
11. Apple Blossom – Live: Shinjuku, Club Urga (27th October 2000)
12. I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself – Live: Shinjuku, Club Urga (27th October 2000)
13. Screwdriver – Live: Shinjuku, Club Urga (27th October 2000)
14. Let’s Shake Hands – Live: Shinjuku, Club Jam (28th October 2000)
15. When I Hear My Name – Live: Shinjuku, Club Jam (28th October 2000)
16. You’re Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl) – Live: Shinjuku, Club Jam (28th October 2000)
17. Hello Operator – Live: Shinjuku, Club Jam (28th October 2000)
18. Jolene – Live: Shinjuku, Club Jam (28th October 2000)
19. Apple Blossom – Live: Shinjuku, Club Jam (28th October 2000)
20. Stop Breaking Down – Live: Shinjuku, Club Jam (28th October 2000)
21. Death Letter – Live: Shinjuku, Club Jam (28th October 2000)
22. Wasting My Time – Live: Shinjuku, Club Jam (28th October 2000)
23. Broken Bricks – Live: Shinjuku, Club Jam (28th October 2000)
24. Cannon – Live: Shinjuku, Club Jam (28th October 2000)
25. You’re Southern Can I Mine – Live: Shinjuku, Club Jam (28th October 2000)
26. Dead Leaves & The Dirty Ground – Live: Shinjuku, Club Jam (28th October 2000)
27. I’m Bored – Live: Shinjuku, Club Jam (28th October 2000)
28. Screwdriver – Live: Shinjuku, Club Jam (28th October 2000)

Back in September 2023, I posted about cult band Sun Dial. If you want to read more about how I discovered the band and a potted history, the link to that post is below. Anyway, that post was essentially a best of the outtakes as well as a live LP post. 

This post is a different beast all together. It is a box set compiled to celebrate 35 years since the band released their first album, ‘Other Way Out’. 

As I noted back in September 2023, Sun Dial have been releasing a steady stream of records since 1990, sometimes in extremely limited numbers so it has been a case of getting them when they come out because if you miss them, you will need to be lucky to pick them up later and they will most probably be quite expensive. For example, the two ‘Exploding In Your Mind’ EPs from 2021 where limited to 30 copies each. In the days before social media, finding out if Sun Dial were releasing new music was a case of buying the correct magazine/newspaper and seeing the record is mentioned. With the advent of social media, this has come a lot easier, especially since the band started an official Facebook page. 

The aim of this box set is to highlight to earliest years of the band when they were at the most Psychedelic. ‘Other Way Out’ is the greatest psych album not made in the 1960s, and the follow up which was called ‘Return Journey’ followed in a similar vein, even though it did not come out until they had released one other album, ‘Reflector’. 

There are numerous takes, demos, rehearsals and mixes spread over so many releases, I felt it would be great to have them all in one place. Fireball takes the record for the most versions. So many in fact, that I filled an entire disc with just that song. 

Disc 1

1. Plains Of Nazca – 1
2. Exploding In Your Mind – 1
3. Magic Flight – 1
4. World Without Time – 1
5. She’s Looking All Around – 1
6. Lorne Blues – 1
7. Plains Of Nazca (EP Edit) – 2
8. Exploding In Your Mind (Single Mix) – 3
9. Disitation (Bucket Of Brains Single) – 2
10. Visitation (Bob 7”) – 4
11. Other Side – 2
12. Fireball (Early Take) – 5
13. Slow Motion (EP Version – Instrumental) – 2
14. Through You – 2
15. Poster Painted Skies (Original Version) – 2
16. I Can See What You Are – 2

Disc 2

1. Plains Of Nazca (First Version) – 7
2. Exploding In Your Mind (Orange Injection Mix) – 7
3. Magic Flight (Alternative Version) – 8
4. Worlds Without Time (Early Mix) – 5
5. She’s Looking All Around (Early Mix) – 5
6. Lorne Blues (Ruby Mix) – 8
7. Other Side (Alternative Mix) – 7
8. Visitation (First Contact) – 7
9. Hole In The Sun – 6
10. Inner Space – 6
11. Sunset Park – 6
12. Exploding In Your Mind (Blue Injection Mix) – 8
13. Silver Dust – 2
14. Never Fade (Take 2) – 5
15. Poster Painted In Skies (Orignal Version) – 4

Disc 3

1. Plains Of Nazca (First Take) – 2
2. Exploding In Your Mind (Anthology Version) – 2
3. Magic Flight (Early Mix 1) – 5
4. She’s Looking All Around (Take 2) – 5
5. Lorne Blues (Take 1) – 5
6. Astral Vision – 2
7. Never Fade (Early Version) – 5
8. Phaser Song – 2
9. Carousel – 2
10. Atom Heart Lover – 2
11. Dark Into Light – 2
12. Other Side (Alternative Mix) – 2
13. Dark Into Light – 2
14. Visitation (Long Version) – 2

Disc 4

1. Plains Of Nazca (Monitor Mix) – 5
2. Exploding In Your Mind (Early Mix) – 5
3. Magic Flight (Early Mix 2) – 5
4. She’s Looking All Around/Crystal Fountain – 8
5. Lorne Blues (Take 2) – 4
6. Magic Potion (Acme Mix) – 4
7. Astral Vision – 10
8. Visitation (Other Way Out Version) – 2
9. Slow Motion (Vocal Version) – 2
10. You’re So Real (Vocal Version) – 2
11. Exploding In Your Mind (Colour Mix) – 2
12. Slow Motion (Version 1) – 5

Disc 5

1. Plains Of Nazca (Take 2) – 5
2. Exploding In Your Mind (Take 2) – 5
3. Lorne Blues – 3
4. Other Side (Unedited Version) – 5
5. Fireball (Alternative Version) – 5
6. Fountain (Take 1) – 5
7. Never Fade (Alternative Mix) – 5
8. Only A Northern Song (Early Mix) – 5
9. Astral Version (Take 2) – 5
10. U.V. (Early Mix) – 5
11. Never Fade (Take 3) – 5
12. You’re So Real (Take 1) – 5
13. Slow Motion (Early Version) – 5
14. Visitation (Early Mix) – 5

Disc 6

1. Pains Of Nazca (Take 3) – 5
2. Exploding In Your Mind (Take 3) – 5
3. Fountain (Take 2) – 5
4. Only A Northern Song (Alternative Mix) – 5
5. Slow Motion (Take 2) – 5
6. You’re So Real (Take 2) – 5
7. Fountain (Take 3) – 5
8. Never Fade (Monitor Mix) – 5
9. Other Side (Take 2) – 5
10. You’re So Real (Take 3) – 5
11. Slow Motion (Take 3) – 5
12. Fountain (Take 4) – 5
13. Never Fade (Take 4) – 5

Disc 7

1. Fireball (Home Demo 1) – 5
2. Fireball (Home Demo 2) – 5
3. Fireball (Instrumental) – 5
4. Fireball (Relapse Mix) –  4
5. Fireball (Mix 1) – 5
6. Fireball (Mix 2) – 5
7. Fireball (Mix 3) – 5
8. Fireball (Mix 4) – 5
9. Fireball (Mix 5) – 5
10. Fireball (Mix 6) – 5
11. Fireball (Mix 7) – 5
12. Fireball (Mix 8) – 5
13. Fireball (Mix 9) – 5
14. Fireball (Take 2) – 5
15. Fireball (Take 3) – 5
16. Fireball (Take 4) – 5
17. Fireball (Overspill EP Original Mix) – 11

Disc 8

1. Magic Potion (1993 Acme Mixes)  – 9
2. North Eastern (1993 Acme Mixes) – 9
3. Fireball (1993 Acme Mixes) – 9
4. U.V. (1993 Acme Mixes) – 9
5. Sunstroke/Mind Train (1993 Acme Mixes) – 9
6. Only A Northern Song (Overspill EP Original Mix) – 11
7. Never Fade (Overspill EP Original Mix) – 11
8. Overspill (Overspill EP Original Mix) – 11
9. Fireball (Overspill EP Alt Mix) – 9
10. Only A Northern Song (Overspill EP Alt. Mix) – 9
11. Never Fade (Overspill EP Alt. Mix) – 9
12. Overspill (Overspill EP Alt Mix) – 9
13. Outer Limits To Your Brain – 9
14. Un-Named Jam – 5

Disc 9

1. Samanthas’s Scene (CR Studios Demo 1) – 5
2. Magic Potion (2005 Relapse Mixes) – 9
3. North Eastern (2005 Relapse Mixes) – 9
4. Fireball (2005 Relapse Mixes) – 9
5. U.V. (2005 Relapse Mixes) – 9
6. Sunstroke/Mind Train (2005 Relapse Mixes) – 9
7. Through You – 9
8. Slow Motion – 9
9. Samanthas’s Scene (CR Studios Demo 2) – 5
10. Mind Train Jam – 9
11. Jam 2 – 5

Disc 10

1. Fireball (2010 Mix) – 9
2. Slide (2010 Mix) – 9
3. Magic Potion (2010 Mix) – 9
4. North Eastern (2010 Mix) – 9
5. Vortex (2010 Mix) – 9
6. Lucky Star (2010 Mix) – 9
7. Never Fade (2010 Mix) – 9
8. Sunstroke (2010 Mix) – 9
9. Mind Train (2010 Mix) – 9
10. Astral Vision (Third Eye Studios Take) – 5
11. Carousel (Third Eye Studios Take) – 5
12. Exploding In Your Mind (CR Studios April 91) – 5

Disc 11

1. Fireball (CR Studios Rehearsal April 91) – 5
2. Other Side (CR Studios Rehearsal April 91) – 5
3. Astral Vision (CR Studios Take 1) – 5
4. Carousel (CR Studios Demo 1) – 5
5. Astral Vision (CR Studios Take 2) – 5
6. Cathedral (CR Studios Demo) – 5
7. Slow Motion (CR Studios Take 2) – 5
8. Carousel (CR Studios Demo 1) – 5
9. Fireball (CR Studios Rehearsal) – 5
10. Carousel (CR Studios Rehearsal) – 5
11. Fireball (CR Studios Take) – 5
12. Slow Motion (CR Studios Take 3a) – 5
13. Carousel (Early CR Studios Take) – 5
14. Slow Motion (CR Studios Take 3b) – 5

The two different versions of Slow Motion (CR Studios Take 3a/b) are actually both listed as Take 3 on the box set. However, on listening to them, they do sound different, hence why they are now listed at 3a and 3b.

Disc 12

1. Visitation Jam Part 1 (November 90) – 5
2. Mind Train Jam – Unedited (December 90) – 5
3. Visitation Jam Part 2 (November 90) – 5
4. Voodoo Jam (Third Eye December 90) – 

Sources Used

1 – Other Way Out

2 – Other Way Out – Deluxe Edition

3 – Shares Of God – The Best Of Sun Dial

4 – Astral Visions

5 – Exploding In Your Mind – 13 Disc Box Set

6 – Plains Of Nazca – The Lost EP

7 – Exploding In Your Mind EP (1)

8 – Exploding In Your Mind EP (2)

9 – Return Journey – The Lost Second Album Session 1991

10 – Other Way In

11 – Never Fade: A Collection of EP’s 1990-1992

The cover includes an Eye of Horus symbol that the band have used on some of their archival releases so I felt it would be appropriate to include here. The image itself was found on the internet but I forgot to make a note of the person who made it. 

Sun Dial – The Early Years

Another month has rolled by (where is the time going?) so here is my latest instalment of my Flying Vinyl sampler records. This one covers 2018.

Side A

1. Phantom Lines – Boniface
2. Mexican Dress – Blood Red Shoes
3. Peace Of Mind – The Pale White
4. Grab Life – Jerry Williams
5. Youth – Cleopatrick
6. Sugar & Spice – Hatchie

Side B

1. Lime Green – Elle Musa
2. Teenage Fantasy – Nancy
3. Lay It On Me – Ten Tonnes
4. Black Balloon – Superego
5. Roller Coaster – Tempesst
6. Eleven Days – Mark & Kristian Band

Side C

1. Jaded – The Old Pink House
2. Suburbs – Marsicans
3. Superglue – Mint
4. Back Of Your Car – Swimming Girls
5. Give Up – Lobers
6. Abseil – Bessie Turner
7. San Francisco – Fickle Friends

Side D

1. Go Get Her, Go Getter – Llovers
2. Ride – Island
3. Ambrosia – Tuska
4. Don’t Get it – Good Foxy
5. (I Have A) Little Secret – Team Picture
6. Absent – Bad News Club

The White Stripes were formed in 1997 by then husband and wife, Jack and Meg White. They officially disbanded in 2011 after releasing six studio albums, one live album and 23 singles. Since then, there have been a plethora of archive releases of unreleased studio tracks and live recordings. The majority of these have been released via Jack White’s Third Man Records label’s Vault series. This has been a gold mine for White Stripes fans but Vault is a subscription service and therefore not available to the general public. This does mean that the majority of these archive releases have been issued on vinyl and due to the nature of The Vault, they have not been available to all but the hardest of hardcore fans. This has given me an opportunity to address this by looking at what each of the White Stripes albums could have looked like if Jack White had followed convention and released the bands back catalogue in deluxe CD sets instead. We start with their self titled debut album. 

Jack White was already an established musician in the Detroit area, having played drums in Gobber & The Peas as well as guitar in The Go, The Henchmen and Two-Star Tabernacle. He and Meg White had started dating a few years before this and were married in 1996. A year later, she started to learn the drum on Jack’s kit, making their live debut at local club, the Gold Dollar not long afterwards. A recording of that first ever gig was made and is presented as the opening three songs on Disc 3 of this set. Adopting the motifs of only wearing clothes that were red, white and/or black, they were back at the Gold Dollar a month later to play a fuller set. This was also recorded and is also presented on Disc 3. 

In 1998, Dave Buick who one Detroit based independent label Italy Records approached the band to release single. This was ‘Let’s Shake Hands’ which was followed later that year by ‘Lafayette Blues’. Both of these singles are presented with their respective B-Sides on Disc 1. In 1999, the band signed to Sympathy For The Record Industry label and released ‘The Big Three Killed My Baby’ as well as their debut album. They also released a split single with another Detroit band, The Dirtbombs, on the B-Side. Their contribution was called ‘Hand Springs’. The debut album and  ‘Hand Springs’ make up the rest of Disc 1. 

Disc 2 comprises of alternatives takes from the first LP sessions that originally came out on ‘The White Stripes XX’ set. This disc also includes some early cover versions of Love’s ‘Signed DC’ and Otis Reddings ‘I’ve Been Living You Too Long’, both of which first saw the light of day on a 7” single as part of the eighth Vault package. ‘Let’s Shake Hands’, ’Look Me Over Closely’, ‘Dead Leaves’ and ‘Let’s Build A Home’ are alternative versions that were released with the second and eleventh Vault package respectively. ‘Dead Leaves’ would eventually be re-recorded for the bands third album. 

Discs 3 and 4 comprise of live recordings. Live at the Gold Dollar 1 and 2 were originally released as part of Vault page 13. Live at the Gold Dollar III was released as part of Vault package 26. Live at the Magic Bag came out as part of Vault package 34 and Live at the Raleigh came out as part of Vault package 42. 

This is the only one of these White Stripes deluxe editions that will be a four disc set. That is because there were a number of releases made from before their first LP came out and I thought this should be included due to their historical importance. 

Disc 1

The debut album with single A and B sides from 1999

1. Jimmy The Exploder
2. Stop Breaking Down
3. The Big Three Killed My Baby
4. Suzy Lee
5. Sugar Never Tasted So Good
6. Wasting My Time
7. Cannon
8. Astro
9. Broken Bricks
10. When I Hear My Name
11. Do
12. Screwdriver
13. One More Cup Off Coffee
14. Little People
15. Slicker Drips
16. St. James Infirmary Blues
17. I Fought Piranhas
18. Let’s Shake Hands (Single A-Side)
19. Look Me Over Closely (Single B-Side)
20. Lafayette Blues (Single A-Side)
21. Red Bowling Ball Ruth (Single B-Side)
22. Hand Springs (Single A-Side)

Side B

Alternative takes, early versions and outtakes

1. Dead Leave (Acoustic Demo Fragment)
2. Dead Leaves (Outtake)
3. I Fought Piranhas (Alternative Take)
4. Jimmy The Exploder (Take 2)
5. Jimmy The Exploder (Take 3)
6. Let’s Build A House (Outtake)
7. My Little Red Book (Outtake)
8. Screwdriver (Alternative Take)
9. Slicker Drips (Alternative Take)
10. Sugar Never Tasted So Good (Take 1)
11. Sugar Never Tasted So Good (Take 2)
12. Wasting My Time (Alternative Take)
13. When I Hear My Name (Alternative Take)
14. Why Can’t You Be Nicer To Me? (Take 1)
15. Why Can’t You Be Nicer To Me? (Take 2)
16. Signed D.C.
17. I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
18. Let’s Shake Hands (Alternative Take)
19. Look Me Over Closely (Alternative Take)
20. Dead Leaves (Alternative Take)
21. Let’s Build A House (Alternative Take)
22. Red Bowling Ball Ruth (Live)

Disc 3 – Live

Tracks 1-3 – Live At Gold Dollar 1 – Bastille Day (14th July 1997)

Tracks 4-14 – Live At Gold Dollar 2 (14th August 1997)

Tracks 15-30 – Live At Gold Dollar 2 (14th August 1997)

1. St James Infirmary
2. Jimmy The Exploder
3. Love Potion #9
4. St James Infirmary 
5. Jimmy The Exploder
6. Red Bowling Ball Ruth
7. I Can Learn
8. Love Potion #9
9. Why Can’t You Be Nice To Me?
10. Marantette Blues (Lafayette Blues)
11. Jumble, Jumble
12. TV Eye
13. Big Girl (Little People)
14. Screwdriver
15. Broken Bricks
16. Jimmy The Exploder
17. The Big Three Killed My Baby
18. Stop Breaking Down
19. Suzy Lee
20. Let’s Build A Home
21. Sugar Never Tasted So Good
22. Do
23. Little People
24. One More Cup Of Coffee
25. Astro
26. Dead Leaves & The Dirty Ground
27. Wasting My Time
28. Red Bowling Ball Ruth
29. Cannon/John The Revelator/Grinnin’ In Your Face
30. Let’s Shake Hands

Disc 4 – Live

Tracks 1-16 – Live At The Magic Bag (30th July 1999)

Tracks 17-31 – Live At The Ritz – Raleigh N.C. (26th September 1999)

1. Jimmy The Exploder
2. Wasting My Time
3. Astro
4. Cannon/John The Revelator
5. The Big Three Killed My Baby
6. I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself
7. Love Sick
8. Dead Leaves & The Dirty Ground
9. St James Infirmary Blues
10. Suzy Lee
11. Stop Breaking Down
12. Lafayette Blues
13. The Same Boy You’ve Always Known
14. You’ve Got Her In Your Pocket
15. Broken Bricks
16. You’ve Got Her In Your Pocket
17. Astro (Incomplete)
18. Jimmy The Exploder
19. Wasting My Time
20. Do
21. Sugar Never Tasted So Good
22. Little People
23. Broken Bricks
24. Suzy Lee
25. Let’s Build A House
26. Jolene
27. Good To Me
28. I’m Bored
29. The Big Three Killed My Baby
30. Trick Bag
31. Screwdriver