Month: May 2025

In May 1985, Dire Straits released their fifth album, ‘Brothers In Arms’. This was the first album to sell more than one million units on the relatively new format of the Compact Disc. It was one of, if not the first album where the music was recorded with the CD in mind as some of the songs needed to be edited down to fit on the LP format. It was also the first album to be certified ten-times platinum in the UK and non times platinum in the US. Worldwide, it has sold over 30 million copies. 

Considering this is such a monumental album and 2025 is quite a big anniversary for it, what has been officially released is, to my mind very disappointing. What we got was the original album (CD mix) and a a previously unreleased concert. All well and good but where are the B-sides, demos, single mixes, LP edits?

I decided that this was to right time to put together a compilation of all of those tracks, but not just from ‘Brothers In Arms’, but from the bands entire career. This is because, for whatever reason, the band themselves (or most probably songwriter, singer and lead guitar player Mark Knopfler) are just not interested in delving into the archives and including this material. 

Apart from the disappointing set for ‘Brothers In Arms’, none of the other Dire Straits albums have received the deluxe treatment. Archive releases have been few and far between. The only major one I can think of was the ‘Honky Tony Demos’ from Record Store Day in 2015. The only other band from that era that has pretty much avoided the deluxe edition box sets is The Police, even though they did get around the doing exactly that for their last studio album, ‘Synchronicity’. 

Disc 1

1. Sultans Of Swing – Demo (The Honky Tonk Demos)
2. Down To The Waterline – Demo (The Honky Tonk Demos)
3. Water Of Love – Demo (The Honky Tonk Demos)
4. Wild West End – Demo (The Honky Tonk Demos)
5. Sultans Of Swing – Single A-Side Version
6. East Bound Train – Single B-Side
7. Where Do You Think You’re Going – Alt. Mix (Money For Nothing)
8. Skateaway – Single A-Side Edit
9. Tunnel Of Love Pt. 1 – Single A-Side
10. Tunnel Of Love Pt. 2 – Single B-Side
11. Private Investigations – Single A-Side Edit
12. Industrial Disease – Promo Stereo Single Edit
13. Twisting By The Pool – ExtendedancEPlay
14. Badges, Posters, Stickers & T-Shirts – ExtendedancEPlay
15. Two Young Lovers  – ExtendedancEPlay

Disc 2

1. If I Had You – ExtendedancEPlay
2. Love Over Gold – Live (Single A-Side)
3. Portobello Belle – Live (Money For Nothing)
4. Telegraph Road – Live Remix (Money For Nothing)
5. So Far Away – LP Version
6. Money For Nothing – LP Version
7. Your Latest Trick – LP Version
8. Why Worry – LP Version
9. Brothers In Arms – Single A-Side Edit
10. Money For Nothing – Long Edit
11. Why Worry – Instrumental Segment (Single B-Side)
12. Money For Nothing – Signal A-Side Edit 

Disc 3

1. Twisting By The Pool – Remix (Money For Nothing)
2. I Think I Love You Too Much – Live (Knebworth – The Album)
3. Calling Elvis – Radio Edit
4. Millionaire Blues – Single B-Side
5. Heavy Fuel – Extended Mix
6. Kingdom Come – Single B-Side
7. Your Latest Trick – Live (Encores EP)
8. The Bug – Live (Encores EP)
9. Solid Rock – Live (Encores EP)
10. Local Hero Wild Theme – Live (Encores EP)
11. Industrial Disease – Promo Mono Single Edit
12. Money For Nothing – 12” Edit
13. Brothers In Arms – Edit

Joy Division were formed by school friends, Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook after both of them had attended a Sex Pistols concert in Manchester, mid 1976. Ian Curtis joined soon afterwards as their vocalist, with the line up completed by the addition of dummer Stephen Morris. They initially called themselves Warsaw, inspired by the song ‘Warszawa’, a David Bowie’s instrumental from his ‘Low’ album. This name did not last very long as they did not want to be confused with a London band going by the name Warsaw Pakt. The name they chose to use instead was Joy Division. It was the taken from a novel called ‘House of Dolls’ and referred to the sexual slavery wing of a Nazi Concentration Camp. Nothing too controversial there then. 

Early recordings were very much in the punk vein and the band managed to create enough of a buzz that they were approached by RCA to record a cover of N. F. Porter’s song ‘Keep On Keeping On’. The band were not too keen on the idea, preferring to record their own material. Matters came to a head and the band asked to be released from their contract. Not standing still, the band recorded and self-released their ‘An Ideal For Living’ EP. The EP featured a drawing of a Hitler Youth member on the cover. This and their name did make people wonder what their political allegiances were.

The band were signed to the newly formed, and soon to be iconic Factory Records. With gigs outside of Manchester and sessions for the legendary John Peel, the band were starting to get noticed but there was trouble on the horizon. Ian Curtis started to have epileptic seizures and the band realised that if they were to continue, this would be something they would need to work with. 

Work they did, and their first album, ‘Unknown Pleasures’ was recorded in April of 1979. The band began a gruelling tour schedule which caused Curtis’ epilepsy to get worse. He started to have seizures on stage, which some members of the audience thought was part of the act. Curtis was also a married man with a young child, but had started a relationship a journalist which put his marriage under strain. This, his epilepsy and a tour to the USA seems to have too much of strain of Curtis’ mental health. On the eve of the tour, he took his own life. 

For a band that lasted for only four years, Joy Divisions’ fans have been well served with compilations and reissues down the years. However, their rather excellent ‘Heart and Soul’ box set from 1997 had number of emissions from it. Originally, this project was designed to put together what was left off of that box set as a bonus disc, but there was too much outstanding material. I then got a bit carried away and thought it would be good to include all of the available live material. In the end, I rejigged the ‘Heart and Soul’ box set and it has turned into pretty much everything that I could lay my hands on it has become an 11 disc set.  As far as I can tell, this would be a comprehensive set, even though I am sure that I have missed a song here and there. 

Disc 1

1. Disorder – Unknown Pleasures
2. Day Of The Lords – Unknown Pleasures
3. Candidate – Unknown Pleasures
4. Insight – Unknown Pleasures
5. New Dawn Fades – Unknown Pleasures
6. She’s Lost Control – Unknown Pleasures
7. Shadowplay – Unknown Pleasures
8. Wilderness – Unknown Pleasures
9. Interzone – Unknown Pleasures
10. I Remember Nothing – Unknown Pleasures
11. Warsaw – An Ideal For Living EP
12. No Love Lost – An Ideal For Living EP
13. Leaders Of Men – An Ideal For Living EP
14. Failures – An Ideal For Living EP
15. At A Later Date (Live) – Short Circuit: Live At The Electric Circus
16. Transmission – Single A Side
17. Novelty – Single B Side
18. Digital – A Factory Sample 
19. Glass – A Factory Sample
20. Auto Suggestion – Earcom 2: Contradiction
21. From Safety To Where…? – Earcom 2: Contradiction

Disc 2

1. Atrocity Exhibition – Closer
2. Isolation – Closer
3. Passover – Closer
4. Colony – Closer
5. A Means To An End – Closer
6. Heart & Soul – Closer
7. Twenty Four Hours – Closer
8. The Eternal – Closer
9. Decades – Closer
10. Atmosphere (Licht Und Blindheit) – Single A Side
11. Dead Souls – Single B Side
12. Love Will Tear Us Apart – Single A Side
13. These Days – Single B Side
14. Komakino – Single A Side
15. Incubation – Single B Side
16. As You Said – Single B Side
17. She’s Lost Control (12” Version) – Single A Side

Disc 3

1. Inside The Line – Warsaw Demo (18th July 1977)
2. Gutz – Warsaw Demo (18th July 1977)
3. At A Later Date – Warsaw Demo (18th July 1977)
4. The Kill – Warsaw Demo (18th July 1977)
5. You’re No Good To Me – Warsaw Demo (18th July 1977)
6. The Drawback – RCA LP Sessions
7. Leaders Of Men – RCA LP Sessions
8. They Walked In Line – RCA LP Sessions
9. Failures – RCA LP Sessions
10. Novelty – RCA LP Sessions
11. No Love Lost – RCA LP Sessions
12. Transmission – RCA LP Sessions
13. Living In The Ice Age – RCA LP Sessions
14. Interzone – RCA LP Sessions
15. Warsaw – RCA LP Sessions
16. Shadowplay – RCA LP Sessions
17. Exercise One – Unknown Pleasures Sessions
18. The Only Mistake – Unknown Pleasures Sessions
19. Walked In Line – Unknown Pleasures Sessions
20. The Kill – Unknown Pleasures Sessions
21. Something Must Break – Transmission Single Session
22. Ice Age – Licht Und Blindheit Sessions
23. Sound Of Music – Love Will Tear Us Apart Session
24. Ceremony – Demo
25. In A Lonely Place (Detail) – Rehearsal
26. Love Will Tear Us Apart – Pennine Studios Version

Disc 4

1. Exercise One – BBC Session
2. Insight – BBC Session
3. She’s Lost Control – BBC Session
4. Transmission – BBC Session
5. Love Will Tear Us Apart – BBC Session
6. Twenty Four Hours – BBC Session
7. Colony – BBC Session
8. Sound Of Music – BBC Session
9. These Days – Piccadilly Radio Session
10. Candidate – Piccadilly Radio Session
11. The Only Mistake – Piccadilly Radio Session
12. Chance (Atmosphere) – Piccadilly Radio Session
13. Transmission – Something Else TV Show
14. She’s Lost Control – Something Else TV Show
15. Insight – Eden Studios Demo
16. Glass – Eden Studios Demo
17. Transmission – Eden Studios Demo
18. Ice Age – Eden Studios Demo
19. Walked In Line (Re-Mix) – Still
20. Something Must Break – Central Sound Studios Version
21. Ian Curtis & Stephen Morris Interview – Richard Skinner Radio One

Disc 5

The studio cuts from the RCA sessions are added here because the mixes used on the ‘Warsaw’ album released by MPG Records in 1994. These songs were also released in 1997 on the ‘Heart and Soul’ box set, but the mixes sound slightly different so they were included here form completeness. 

1. Dead Souls – Live at The Factory, Manchester 13th July 1979
2. The Only Mistake – Live at The Factory, Manchester 13th July 1979
3. Insight – Live at The Factory, Manchester 13th July 1979
4. Candidate – Live at The Factory, Manchester 13th July 1979
5. Wilderness – Live at The Factory, Manchester 13th July 1979
6. She’s Lost Control – Live at The Factory, Manchester 13th July 1979
7. Shadowplay – Live at The Factory, Manchester 13th July 1979
8. Disorder – Live at The Factory, Manchester 13th July 1979
9. Interzone – Live at The Factory, Manchester 13th July 1979
10. Atrocity Exhibition – Live at The Factory, Manchester 13th July 1979
11. Novelty – Live at The Factory, Manchester 13th July 1979
12. Transmission – Live at The Factory, Manchester 13th July 1979
13. I Remember Nothing – Live at The Winter Gardens, Bournemouth 2nd November 1979
14. Colony – Live at The Winter Gardens, Bournemouth 2nd November 1979
15. These Days – Live at The Winter Gardens, Bournemouth 2nd November 1979
16. The Drawback (Alt Mix) – RCA LP Sessions
17. Interzone (Alt Mix) – RCA LP Sessions
18. Shadowplay (Alt Mix) – RCA LP Sessions
19. As You Said (Alt Mix) – Komakino Single Session

Disc 6 – Live at Les Bains Douches, 18th December 1979

1. Disorder
2. Love Will Tears Us Apart
3. Insight
4. Shadowplay
5. Transmission
6. Day Of The Lords
7. Twenty Four Hours
8. These Days
9. A Means To An End
10. Passover
11. New Dawn Fades
12. Atrocity Exhibition
13. Digital
14. Dead Souls
15. Auto Suggestion
16. Atmosphere

Disc 7 – Live at the University Of London Union 8th February 1980

1. Dead Souls
2. Glass
3. A Means To An End
4. Twenty Four Hours
5. Passover
6. Insight
7. Colony
8. These Days
9. Love Will Tear Us Apart
10. Isolation
11. The Eternal
12. Digital

Disc 8 – Live at High Wycombe Hall 20th February 1980

1. Isolation – Sound Check
2. The Eternal – Sound Check
3. Ice Age – Sound Check
4. Disorder – Sound Check
5. The Sound Of Music – Sound Check
6. A Means To An End – Sound Check
7. The Sound Of Music
8. A Means To An End
9. Colony
10. Twenty Four Hours
11. Isolation
12. Love Will Tear Us Apart
13. Disorder
14. Atrocity Exhibition

Disc 9 – Live Preston 28th February 1980

1. Incubation 
2. Wilderness
3. Twenty Four Hours 
4. The Eternal 
5. Heart & Soul
6. Shadowplay
7. Transmission
8. Disorder 
9. Warsaw 
10. Colony
11. Interzone

Disc 10

1. The Eternal – Live Lyceum Ballroom, London 29th February 1980
2. Heart & Soul – Live Lyceum Ballroom, London 29th February 1980
3. Isolation – Live Lyceum Ballroom, London 29th February 1980
4. She’s Lost Control – Live Lyceum Ballroom, London 29th February 1980
5. The Sound Of Music – Live at The Moonlight Club, London 2nd April 1980
6. Wilderness – Live at The Moonlight Club, London 2nd April 1980
7. Colony – Live at The Moonlight Club, London 2nd April 1980
8. Love Will Tear Us Apart – Live at The Moonlight Club, London 2nd April 1980
9. A Means To An End – Live at The Moonlight Club, London 2nd April 1980
10. Transmission – Live at The Moonlight Club, London 2nd April 1980
11. Dead Souls – Live at The Moonlight Club, London 2nd April 1980
12. Sister Ray – Live at The Moonlight Club, London 2nd April 1980

Disc 11 – Live at The High Hall Birmingham University 2nd May 1980

1. Ceremony
2. Shadowplay
3. A Means To An End
4. Passover
5. New Dawn Fades
6. Twenty Four Hours
7. Transmission
8. Disorder
9. Isolation
10. Decades
11. Digital

A lot has been written about ‘The Beatles’ or ‘The White Album’ as it is more commonly known. The only double album released during the band’s lifetime, it has become notorious in some circles for having the worst Beatles track ever released on it (‘Revolution #9’), some filler that should have remained firmly in the archives (‘Wild Honey Pie’), and ‘Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da’. This is most probably the most Marmite song in the bands catalogue, as it was not a favourite of the other Beatles, but it was a number 1 hit in the UK for the band Marmalade. 

In the past, I had a go at making this a single LP but there was plenty of songs left over that were of high quality that it would have been a shame to lose them. However, there was, in my opinion, only enough quality material for three sides of really good music. A few weeks back, I was on Youtube and the algorithm threw up an intreating mash up of Jackie Lomax’s ‘Sour Milk Sea’ backing track with George Harrison’s vocals from the demo played on top. With three of the four Beatles on this (only Lennon was not involved), could this now be included? 

Well, I thought so, so I looked to rejig the tracks to include this as well as another Harrison song, ‘Not Guilty’. This song took 102 takes to get right, and was a strong contender for inclusion but with its thinly vailed barbs at Lennon and McCartney, it was felt that airing their dirty washing in public was not the done thing. I have also included the ‘Let It Be….Naked’ version of ‘Across The Universe. Though it was not recorded for the “:White Album’, it was in the can and does not sound out of place, especially with this sparce arrangement. The introduction to Ringo’s song’ Don’t Pass Me By’ has been reinstated, having been first revealed to the world as the opening song on the ‘Anthology 3’ LP. 

Overall, this is still not a perfect album but I would say that these additions make it much  better one. 

Side 1

1. Back In The U.S.S.R.
2. Dear Prudence
3. Glass Onion
4. Sour Milk Sea
5. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
6. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
7. Happiness Is A Warm Gun

Side B

1. Martha My Dear
2. I’m So Tired
3. Blackbird
4. Piggies
5. Rocky Racoon
6. Don’t Pass Me By
7. Why Don’t We Do It In The Road
8. I Will
9. Julia

Side C

1. Birthday
2. Yer Blues
3. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except For Me & Monkey
4. Sexy Sadie
5. Helter Skelter
6. Long, Long, Long
7. Across The Universe

Side D

1. Revolution 1
2. Mother Nature’s Son
3. Not Guilty
4. Honey Pie
5. Savoy Truffle
6. Cry Baby Cry
7. Good Night

The cover was adapted from an image taken and adapted from https://beatlesandrutles.blogspot.com/2020/09/beatles-fantasy-albums.html. I added a picture of The Beatles to the centre which means that they would now have an image on the band on all of the LPs they released during their lifetime. The original cover of ‘The Beatles’ was the only one not to have any image of the band on it all.  

The Young Ones is one of the greatest situation comedies ever produced, even though it was not a conventional sit com. It was offbeat, anarchic, surreal and as far as my younger self was concerned, absolutely brilliant. 

Broadcast between 1982 and 1984 on the BBC, the premise was simple. Four students all at the same University (called Scumbag College) share a house but as far as the individuals are concerned, they have little in common. These were Vyvyan, medical student and borderline psychopath. Rick, left leaning attention seeking radical who is shown leaving the sociology department in the credits. Neil, a hippy who cooks everyone else’s meals but is bullied by the rest of the house and then there is Mike. He might not be a student because in the opening credits of the first series, he is seen giving a member of the University staff some cash in what looks like a bribe. At no point at they actually shown being in lectures or rarely leaving the house. There was also fifth member of the house hold who would appear in the background, never interacting with the others or even saying anything. No one is quite sure who the person playing this role actually was. It just seemed like a good idea to have a figure in the background that no one talked about or have an explanation as to why they were there. 

The series also featured Alexi Sayle in several supporting roles as well as numerous guests who would go on to great success themselves. These included Huge Laurie, Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French and Paul Merton. The show was also able to acquire a higher budget by coming under the heading of a variety show. To achieve this, there was a music guest in each show except one. In that one, there was a lion tamer. 

The show was also full of incidental music. Some of this composed and recorded by Peter Brewis, who had performed with the band Magnet, who appeared in the original Wicker Man film in 1973. There also lots of music used the background including well established songs, obscure tracks and library music.

The first part of this post is what a soundtrack LP could have been like if it had been released in the early 1980s when the show was originally broadcast. This would have included most of the songs performed by the bands that appeared in each episode. As this imagined record would have been released by try BBC’s own in house record label, they would not have used the recordings made for the show. Some of the bands had actually performed live. 

The compiler, I suspect would have used the original recordings made by each artist. I believe that the BBC would have edited out the introduction to this recording of Dr Marten’s Boots so as to get rid of the profanity. The version of House of Fun by Madness used in the show was the single version. That person has an abrupt piano chord ending, unlike the LP version which fades out.

Some recordings would not make the cut, as these seemed to have been recorded for the show and not available anywhere else. The most prominent was a cover of Bob Dylan’s Subterranean Homesick Blues by Ken Bishop’s Nice Twelve. This was included in the second episode of the second series but this was a band made up of Chris Difford (Squeeze), Jools Holland (Squeeze), Martin Dobson (session player), Peter Brewis (music director of the show), Rowland Rivron (comedian/musician), Simon Brint (comedian/musician) and Stewart Copeland (The Police) which was recorded especially for the show and has never been officially released. 

The second was included in series one, episode two and was called ‘Coo Coo Daddy Long Legs’. It was performed by Ronnie Golden, once of The Fabulous Poodles dressed to look like Buddy Holly, hanging upside down and still in a parachute. The last was another by Alexei Sayle. It was also in series two,, episode two and was called ‘Stupid Noises’. 

Side 1 (Series 1)

1. Eleven Plus Eleven – Nine Below Zero
2. Dr Marten’s Boots – Radical Posture
3. House of Fun (Single Mix) – Madness
4. Jackie Wilson Said – Dexy Midnight Runners
5. You’re Not My Climate – Rip, Rig & Panic

Side 2 (series 2)

1. Ace Of Spades – Motörhead
2. Nasty – The Damned
3. Moonlight Romance – Amazulu
4. Our House – Madness
5. Body Talk – John Otway

If there was a deluxe edition of the compilation for the CD era, the second disc would include songs that were used in the Young Ones TV Show has background music. I imagine that this would been a niche release on the always reliable Cherry Red Records.

1. Rock Around The Clock – Bill Haley & the Comets
2. Travelin’ Light – Cliff Richard
3. Skin Tight – Paul Keogh (Bruton Music – Library Piece)
4. Souq –  Ali Ishfahan And George Farid (Library music)
5. I’m Bustin’ My Rocks (Working On The Chain Gang) – Roy C
6. Fire – The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
7. Bermuda Triangle – Barry Manilow
8. Flash Barrier – John Hawksworth (Library Music) 
9. The Teddy Bear’s Picnic – Henry Hall
10. Les Patineurs Valse (The Skater’s Waltz) Op. 183 – Emile Waldteufel
11. Good Day Sunshine – The Beatles
12. I’m Not A Juvenile Delinquent  – Frankie Lemon & The Teenagers
13. Bluebird – Alan Hawkshaw (Library Music)
14. Cinderella Rockafella – Alan Moorhouse & His Bond Street Brigade
15. You’ll Always Find Me I The Kitchen At Parties – Joan Lewie
16. Ain’t Nothin’ But A House Party – The Paper Dolls 
17. The Things That Dreams Are Made Of – The Human League
18. It’s My Party – Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin
19. Mama Told Me (Not To Come) – Three Dog Night
20. The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh) – Tight Fit 
21. The Day The Rains Came – Helen Shapiro
22. Move It (1958 Version) – Cliff Richard & The Drifters
23. At The Sign of there Swinging Cymbal – Brass Incorporated 
24. Electric Gypsies – Steve Hillage
25. Comedy Cues (Comic) – Dave Richmond (Library music)
26. Twist & Shout – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes
27. Funky Feeling – Miki Antony
28. The Good Life Theme – Burt Rhodes
29. Chase Sequence – Don Banks

Not all of the music would be included due to limitations on the CD and these are listed below. 

Morning Has Broken – John Gregory

Inferno Galop – Jacques Offenbach

All I Have To Do Is Dream – Unknown (From 20 Golden Hits of the 50s LP)

Introit Puer Natus Est – Gregorian Chant Vol III No 1 – Unknown

Greensleeves – Jack Shaindlin

If you wish to read more about the music contained in the show, check out the following links. 

The Young Ones Music Guide: Series One

The Young Ones Music Guide: Series Two