Category: Lost Album

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

Released 30 years ago today, Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Live at the BBC’ was just one of a number of archive albums recorded at the Beeb that came out in the mid 90s’. Even though a number of BBC Sessions had seen the light of day on the Strange Fruit label, these tended to be a single session and not a career overview. This changed with The Beatles and their BBC sessions album from 1995 and a year later, Mac followed suit. The band were billed as Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, but some of the songs were recorded after he had left with one song being recorded as late as 1971, a full year after Green had gone. What I found surprising is that there wasn’t a contribution from Christine McVie included. The songs were not in chronological order and the sleeve notes were a little on the small side making it quite difficult to read which sessions they did come from. It did not stop this from being an awesome compilation especially as the band did not record some of these songs for one of their studio albums. 

As there were a good deal of songs recorded for the BBC that did not make the cut, I thought that on the 30th anniversary of this compilation there should be a follow up. I was genially surprised there has not been a second volume, especially as there was enough material to compile one. Not all of the sessions were kept by the BBC and you can tell that some of them are off air recordings. 

Some have also been released on compilations down the years but did not acknowledge they were BBC sessions in the sleeve notes, once again showing the disregard Fleetwood Mac have had when it comes to the majority of their archive releases. 

Like the first volume, I took songs from the same years but this time there some audible contributions form Christine McVie. She can heard singing backing vocals on ‘Station Man’ as well as contributing some keyboard parts. For the most part, I have tried to keep the material blues based which is what the band were famous for at the time. 

Unlike the majority of my what-if records, this one is designed for CD in the same way the first one was*. 

Disc 1

1. Coming Your Way
2. My Baby’s Sweeter
3. Talk With You
4. How Blue Can You Get?
5. Please Find My Baby
6. Buzz Me Baby
7. Underway
8. Lazy Poker Blues
9. Got To Move
10. Tell Me All The Things You Do
11. I Can’t Stop Loving Her
12. Station Man
13. I Have To Laugh
14. Stranger Blues
15. Love That Burns
16. I’m So Lonely & Blue

Disc 2

1. Bo Diddley
2. Black Magic Woman
3. Tiger
4. You’re The One
5. Sweet Little Angel
6. You Need Love
7. Mean Old World
8. Peggy Sue Got Married
9. Dead Shrimp Blues
10. Albatross
11. Without You
12. The Sun Is Shining
13. Wine, Whiskey & Women
14. The Green Manalishi (With The Two Pronged Crown)
15. Leaving Town Blues
16. Great Balls Of Fire

The cover mirrors Vol.1, except with a blue tone instead of the sepia one of the original. Unfortunately I cannot remember where I found it online. 

*This record did see a limited vinyl release in Japan in 1996, but had exactly the same songs as the standard CD which were over 50 minutes in length. Not exactly a vinyl friendly length. 

This was a project I have been milling over for a number of years now. It was inspired by hearing the single version of ‘In-A-Garda-Da-Vida’ by Iron Butterfly. The original album version clocked in a side of an LP filling 17:05, but the single was only 2:52. There was some severe editing going on here butt gave me an idea. How many other songs from this era, and from North America (as I had already covered British psych quite extensively already) had single versions considerably different to the LP ones? Well, not many but there were several that were different mixes, or completely different versions. Mono was also a dying format in the USA in the late 60s and by 1968, few LPs were released in this format. However, singles continued to be so as most radio stations were still using the AM signal, which only broadcast in mono. Stereo singles were also released in this time. 

When reissue programmes gathered pace in the mid 1990’s, mono was mostly ignored and so the original vinyl version of these records became sought after by collectors. Slowly, but surely, mono releases started being reissued but this tended to be album mixes. The more obscure single mixes tended to be relegated to specialist compilations or forgotten about. 

This is my attempt at compiling a three disc set with as many single version of songs I could find. This includes well known acts as well as the more obscure. It is not only A-Sides as well, but some B-sides as well. Some of the artists were just starting out (e.g. Alice Cooper) whereas some were trying to adapt to a new sound having been part of the previous scene (e.g. The Electric Prunes). 

In terms of the artists represented on this compilation, the vast majority come from the USA, but there are the odd interloper from Canada. I also thought this would have been the sort of compilation that Rhino would release. If this ever to come out, with the way these things are released in 2025, it would come out on vinyl and CD so the timings of each disc had to be able to fit on both forms without any loss of songs or a change in the running order. The name of the compilation comes from a song on Disc 1 by The United States of America. 

CD1

LP Side 1

1. On The Road Again (1968 Stereo Single Mix) – Canned Heat
2. Heroes & Villains (1967 Mono Single Mix) – The Beach Boys
3. Mr. Soul (1967 Mono Single Mix) – Buffalo Springfield
4. 32-20 (1966 Mono Single Mix) – The Charlatans
5. Love Street (1968 Mono Single Mix) – The Doors
6. She Sang Hymns Out Of Tune (1967 Mono Single Mix) – Harry Nilsson
7. Pandora’s Golden Heebie Jeebies (1967 Mono Single Mix) – The Association

LP Side 2

1. Omaha (1967 Mono Single) – Moby Grape
2. Abba Zaba (1967 Mono Single) – Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3. Rain (1968 Mono Single Mix) – Kak
4. Hello Hello (1966 Mono Single) – Sopwith Camel
5. A Girl I Knew (1967 Mono Single Mix) – Steppnwolf
6. White Light/White Heat (1967 Mono Single Mix) – The Velvet Underground
7. Brother Lou’s Love Colony (1967 Mono Single Mix) – Colours
8. In-A-Garda-Da-Vida (1968 Mono Single Mix) – Iron Butterfly

LP Side 3

1. Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man (1968 Stereo Single) – The Bob Segar System
2. Talkin’ To Your Toothbrush (1968 Stereo Single) – Mama Cass
3. Nickles & Dimes (1968 Stereo Single) – The Bag
4. Dino’s Song (1968 Stereo Single) – Quicksilver Messenger Service
5. Shadow In The Corner Of Your Mind (1967 Mono Single) – Kenny Rogers & The First Edition
6. Free Up (Part 1) (1969 Promo Single) – The Surprise Package
7. White Bird (1969 Stereo Single Mix) – It’s A Beautiful Day

LP Side 4

1. The Garden Of Earthly Delights (1968 Stereo) – The United States Of America
2. Hold On (1969 Mono Single Mix) – The Rascals
3. Last Night I Had A Dream (1968 Stereo Single Mix) – Randy Newman
4. Coo Coo (1968 Stereo Single) – Big Brother & The Holding Company
5. Think Twice (1968 Mono Single Mix) – Think Twice
6. Scorpio Red (1968 Mono Single) – The Holy Mackarel
7. Change Is Now (1967 Mono Single) – The Byrds

CD2

LP Side 1

1. Rainy Day Woman #12 & 35 (1966 Mono Single Mix) – Bob Dylan
2. I Can Only Give You Everything (1967 Single) – MC5
3. Reflected (1969 Single) – Alice Cooper
4. Impressions With Syvonne (1967 Mono Single) – Don Grady
5. Lantern Gospel (1968 Single) – The World Column
6. 900 Million People Daily All Making Love (1968 Single Mix) – The Seeds

LP Side 2

1. Sanctus (1968 Mono Single) – The Electric Prunes
2. House Of Painted Glass (1967 Single) – The Sandals
3. Please (1968 Single) – Kaleidoscope
4. Pancake Trees (1970 Promo Single) – Jefferson Lee
5. Smile, let Your Life Begin (1967 Mono Single) – The Factory
6. Who Is That Girl (1967 Single) – The Scott Richard Case
7. Bubble Gum (1969 Single) – Kim Fowley

LP Side 3

1. Fool (1970 Single) – Blue Cheer
2. Skipping Through The Night (1967 Single) – NGC-4594
3. Come Down (1967 Single) – The Common Cold
4. Not To Know (1970 Mono Single Mix) – Moon
5. Song Of A Gypsy (1969 Single) – Damon
6. Night Sounds Loud (1968 Single) – Clear Light
7. One Ring Jane (1969 Single) – Mother Tucker’s Yellow Duck

LP Side 4

1. L-12 East (1968 Single) – Groundspeed
2. Nobody (1968 Mono Single Mix) – Three Dog Night
3. Hungry Woman (1967 Promo Single) – Euphoria
4. Raising Sorrow (1969 Single) – The Mass
5. Mary Maiden (1969 Single) – The Scarlett Letter
6. Who Do You Love (1969 Single) – The Blues Magoos
7. Revelation In Slow Motion (1968 Single) – Count Five

CD3

LP Side 1

1. Alone Again Or (1967 Mono Single Remix) – Love
2. Dark Star (1968 Single) – Grateful Dead
3. I Want To Take You Higher (1970 Mono Single) – Sly & the Family Stone
4. Invisible People (1967 Mono Single) – Hamilton Streetcar
5. White Rabbit (1967 Mono) – Jefferson Airplane
6. How Could I Be Such A Fool (1966 Mono) – The Mothers Of Invention
7. You keep Me Hangin’ On (1967 Stereo Single Mix) – Vanilla Fudge

LP Side 2

1. Tripping Into Sunshine (1968 Single) – T.I.M.E.
2. Sum Up Broke (1966 Mono Single) – The International Submarine Band
3. I’ll Slip Away (1967 Mono Single) – Rod Riquez
4. Choo Choo Train (1968 Single) – The Box Tops
5. I Feel Like I[m Fixin’ To Die Rag (1965 Original Mono EP Version) – Country Joe & the Fish
6. I Stole The Goodyear Blimp (1967 Mono Single) – The Book Of Changes
7. Sing Me A Rainbow (1966 Mono Single) – The Sons Of Champlin

LP Side 3

1. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes (1969 Mono Single Mix) – Crosby, Stills & Nash
2. Kaleidoscoptic (1968 Single) – Shiva’s Headband
3. The Big Bright Pleasure Machine (1968 Single) – The Joyride
4. Uncle Jack (1968 Single) – Spirit
5. Sittin’ In Circles (1968 Single) – Steve Miller Band
6. Wings (1966 Single) – Tim Buckley

LP Side 4

1. I’ve Got Leviathan (1967 Mono Single) – The 13th Floor Elevators
2. Machines (1968 Single) – Lothar & The Hand People
3. Dialated Eyes (1969 Mono Promo Single) – The Gregorians
4. The Truth Is Not Real (1968 Mono Single Mix) – Sagittarius
5. Darkness, Darkness (1969 Mono Single) –  The Youngbloods
6. Porpoise Song (1968 Mono Single Mix) – The Monkees

I went a bit over the top with the artwork on this compilation by having gatefold sleeves for the vinyl edition as well as for the CDs. 

Outside box set cover comes from ‘Sixties Psychedelic Movement Typography of Psychedelia by Shanley Mitchell (artist unknown) 

Volume 1 artwork by James Lewicki

Volume 2 artwork by an unknown artist. Found it on a blog

Volume 3 artwork by Tyrus Wong

As I mentioned earlier, I thought this would be the sort of compilation that Rhino would release so I have included their logo on the artwork. 

As this was designed to be a series of gatefold LPs as well CDs, I made some relevant artwork if a vinyl version was ever to be released.

To round of the month, here is the latest instalment of my sampler LPs looking at the Flying Vinyl label.

Side 1

1. I’m Gonna Do Well – Calva Louise
2. Boyfriend – Confidence Man
3. She Looks Like A Dreamer – Hey Charlie
4. Fun Garcon – The Van T’s
5. Weeping – Horsey
6. Saltwater – Beowulf

Side 2

1. Boyfriend – Marika Hackman
2. Love – Anteros
3. Waste Of Time – The Cosmics
4. Look The Other Way – Family Friends
5. Never Start – Middle Kids
6. Finally (Acoustic Version) – Francobollo

Side C

1. Heartfelt – The Ninth Wave
2. Dead Dreamers – Demob Happy
3. Vendetta – Mellow Gang
4. Heathen – Colouring
5. Do Tell – Sides

Side D

1. Boyish – Hippo Campus
2. Island – Waves
3. Manicure – Sports
4. Dreams Tonite – Alvvays
5. No Big Deal – Our Girl
6. Reverie – Isaac Gracie

If you look at a discography of The Kinks, you will see that they have released a number of live recordings down the years. The first was ‘Live At Kelvin Hall’ in 1967 and the next being ‘One For The Road’ in 1980. However, there was another, released in-between these but it was included with the 1972 studio album ‘Everybody’s In Show-Biz – Everybody’s A Star’. This live album was not advertised as such. On the back cover, the tracks are listed as just being on sides 3 & 4 of the double album. All very confusing. However, what if these live tracks were not included on the ‘Everybody’s In Show-Biz’ but were released as their own album. 

On the 2nd and 3rd of March, 1972, The Kinks played two shows at Carnegie Hall in New York. The band were augmented by The Mike Cotton Sound whose horns had first been heard on the 1971 Kinks album, ‘Mussel Hillbillies’. All of the songs on the original incarnation from ‘Everybody’s In Show-Biz’ were taken from the 3rd March, but when this album was given the deluxe treatment in 2016, songs from the 2nd March were also made available. What was most surprising was how few of the songs were same. The Kinks were known at the time for their unpredictability during their concert but it seems that they could pull out deep cuts from their earlier days. ‘You’re Looking Fine’ being the best example, as it was an album track dating back to 1966 and taken from the ‘Face To Face’ album. 

With these additional recordings, it was almost possible to create a double live album. I say almost because without using the more than one version of a song, side 4 would be a little short. Luckily, the deluxe version of ‘Everybody’s In Show-Biz’ included the song ‘History’, a studio outtake which had remained unreleased until 2016. Putting a studio track onto a live album was not unheard of, even in the early 1970s. For example, ‘Live Cream’ by Cream included the song ‘Lady Mama’ which was a totally studio recording. Putting the song ‘History’ at the end of side 4 does mean that sides now match up roughly to each other.

Double live albums became popular in the 1970s, be it as a way of showcasing the band in a concert setting. However, most were released as a contractual obligation (especially if the band had spilt up and there wasn’t a possibility of any new studios recordings), during a period of writer’s block or as a stop gap between releases. It is for this last reason that I think this album could have come out. The Kinks, and in that regard, I mean main songwriter Ray Davies was a busy boy in the 1970’s. They release eleven studio albums during this period as well as being a major concert drawn, especially in America. However, 1976 is the odd year out as this was the only one where the band did not release a new studio album. This would be the year I would have putout this live double album out. 

The first LP in this double album follows the original release from 1972, except that I have taken ‘Lola’ off and placed it on side 4 to end the concert performances. Doing this means that sides 1 & 2 match up a lot more closely in terms of playing time on each side and ‘Lola’ sounds as though it should be at the end of the album. It is also an edit so we do not get the full song. The unedited version of this song was not even on the deluxe version from 2016. One thing I would change if I had been in charge of producing this album was to make a mix that made it sound more like a live experience than what we got. There are some abrupt edits between songs and it really sounds a bit shoddy. I’ve heard live bootlegs with more care and attention put into them. I would also have liked to see what other songs were recorded on these nights so I could have taken out ‘Banana Boat Song’ and ‘Baby Face’. They sound a bit out of place to my ears, and they are not complete performances. It was like Ray Davies decided to have a quick sing song of an old tune to fill out the time. Interesting to see what was going through his head at the time, but not essential. 

Side 1

1. Top Of The Pops
2. Brainwashed
3. Mr. Wonderful
4. Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues
5. Holiday

Side 2

1. Muswell Hillbilly
2. Alcohol
3. Banana Boat Song
4. Skin & Bone
5. Baby Face

Side 3

1. ’Til The End Of The Day
2. You’re Looking `fine
3. Get Back In Line
4. Have A Cuppa tea
5. Sunny Afternoon

Side 4

1. Complicated Life
2. Long Tall Shorty
3. She’s Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina
4. Lola
5. History (Studio Outtake)

The cover is one of those rare occasions where I have created the back of the sleeve as well as the front. That is because the picture has pretty much the who band and the Mike Cotton Sound in view (apart from keyboard player John Gosling). As this is a double LP and would have had a gatefold sleeve (this was the 70s you know), having the whole image was the right thing to do.