I did say at the beginning of this year that it would be focused on Britpop releases with the occasional anniversary fantasy box set thrown in for good measure, but Beck was an artist I was listening to during this time so it felt right to include him here.
I first heard of Beck whilst watching his debut UK television performance on legendary British music show, ‘Top Of The Pops’. I didn’t know what to make of the performance as I have never been a fan of rapping, and the band seems to be made up of very old men miming quite badly. I then saw a review for his ‘Mellow Gold’ in another British music institution that has now gone to the nostalgia bin in the form of Q Magazine. The review gave it five out of five, something you did not see very often. I was feeling flush that week so ‘Mellow Gold’ was purchased. It was like nothing I had heard before and even though ‘Loser’ had the potential to be a one hit wonder, there was enough in the grooves for me to become very interested in what this guy was going to do next.
What I didn’t realise is that he was going to to quite a lot, and had already done quite a bit already. Beck had been recording in one form or another since the late 80s with some now impossible to find low-fi cassette albums. These were never going to be on my radar, as they were only ever available in the USA and 1994 was essentially the age before the internet, so I did not find out about these releases until much later. What I did have was The Record Shop in Kingston Upon Thames. The haven for vinyl releases in the vinyl desert that was the mid 90s’. If you wanted something rare, and more importantly in this case, imported from abroad, that was the place to get it. I may well have bought ‘Mellow Gold’ there in the first place. Anyway, I digress.
Going back a few weeks after first playing ‘Mellow Gold’, I found that the Beck section had a 10” Beck record in it called ‘A Western Harvest Field by Moonlight’. It even came with a limited edition finger painting, which was nothing to shout about but this was only available with the initial run. Whereas ‘Mellow Gold’ was recorded with what sounded like a budget (all be it a small one), ‘A Western Harvest Field by Moonlight’ sounded as if the money for its production had been spent having a good time before hand. It was full of curious sound experiments, a tune that sounded as though he was plonking around on a guitar and playing around with the drum machine settings on a cheap Casio keyboard. There was the odd song in there, but this was one for the completist.
I then found out that he had released another album just before ‘Mellow Gold’ called ‘Stereopathetic Soulmaure’. I thought I would give that a go and found that this was in a similar vein to ‘A Western Harvest Field by Moonlight’ more noise experiments, home and live recordings. There even recordings made out on the street with guest performers. ‘Stereopathetic Soulmanure’ did have more in the way of songs on it, some of which showed a strong country influence. The song ‘Rowboat’ has some lovely pedal steel playing in it and is possibly the best of Beck’s early songs. There was another album released before ‘Mellow Gold’ called ‘Golden Feelings’ but I have never seen a copy for sale for anything other than a staggeringly high price on line.
Beck was able to release these low-fi experimental albums because his label, which had released ‘Mellow Gold’ allowed him to do so. Great for the collector, but so much if you wanted a record that could be considered song based. Coming back to these records many years later, I wondered what would have happened if the more songs based tunes were released on their own without the more experimental efforts and so we have my version of ‘A Western Harvest Field by Moonlight’.
‘Aphid Manure Heist’ has been edited so that is just the violin intro, as I didn’t like the second section and this also meant that the run times would match up more evenly as this would be another of my what-if albums that would have been released on a 12” LP. It is still quite short for an LP and still has flashes of experimentation and is not exactly commercial, but it holds together.
Side A
Totally Confused – A Western Harvest Field by Moonlight
Thunder Peel – Stereopathetic Soulmanure
Modesto – Stereopathetic Soulmanure
Today Has Been A Fucked Up Day – Stereopathetic Soulmanure
Getting’ Home – A Western Harvest Field by Moonlight
Pinefresh – A Western Harvest Field by Moonlight
Satan Gave Me A Taco – Stereopathetic Soulmanure
Feel Like A Piece Of Shit (Cheetos Time!) – A Western Harvest Field by Moonlight
Ken (Hidden Track) – Stereopathetic Soulmanure
I could have used the more experimental efforts from these two albums and they could have been released as a companion piece called ‘Stereopathetic Soulmanure’ That is a project for another day, or even for somebody else.
Belly are an alternative rock act formed in 1991 by ex-Breeders and Throwing Muses member, Tanya Donnelly. I published a lost album of them which covered some of their best B-Sides back in January of 2023*, but this is complete over view of their work whilst they were signed to the 4AD label.
They only released two albums during this period, the second of which would turn out to be their last LP for twenty three years. This second album was called ‘King’ and was met with lukewarm reviews at the time as this was a bit different from their debut, ‘Star’ which was released two years earlier. The songs on ‘King’ were a bit rockier in sound, with heavier riffs and the lyrics were a bit more personal than they had been before.
Neither the singles or album sold in the quantities that the record label were expecting and this was after they had appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine. Tanya Donelly, main songwriter and focus of the band decided to break up the group feeling that there was too much negativity around. She decided to start a solo career. Bass player Gail Greenwood played with L7 and Big Naked as well as her own group. Drummer and lead guitar player, Chris and Thomas Gorman founded a commercial photography business. All went quiet until 2016 when it was announced that they would be going out on a short tour and a year later, they started to record their third album.
I loved Belly and I was really disappointed when they split. I spent the next few years trying to find all of the different versions of singles so I could acquire all of the B-Sides. The album ‘Sweet Ride’ also included some songs that were not available anywhere else.
I thought I would put together a box set focusing on the years they were signed 4AD records, especially as this was one of my favourite bands form the 90s which is my focus for a lot of my playlists this year. What we get here are a five CD set which includes both albums, B-Sides and rarities. If I was curating this set, I would also include a DVD (or Blu Ray) disc which the official videos of the singles, TV appearances from the US and UK (I could not find any reference to any appearances from other countries) as well as their spots at the Glastonbury Festivals in 1993 and 1995 as well as the Great Expectations concert to raise money for the radio station, XFM.
A quick note on some of the songs. ‘It’s Not Unusual’ from the ‘Gepetto’ (Remix Disc 2) and ‘Ivo’ Version ‘ from the ‘Moon EP’ are very similar. I think they cold even be the same even though the credits make it seem as though they are different. The single version of ‘Gepetto’ on Disc 5 was only placed there because there wasn’t space on any of the others discs.
I am sure that if this was to be released, I would hope that there would be some previously unreleased performances included, including more demos.
Disc 1 – Star & Slow Dust EP
Someone To Die For
Angel
Dusted
Every Word
Gepetto
Witch
Slow Dog
Low Red Moon
Feed The Tree
Full Moon, Empty Heart
White Belly
Untogether
Star
Sad Dress
Stay
Dusted (Original Version)
Slow Dog (Original Version)
Dancing Gold
Low Red Moon (Original Version)
Dusted (Orignal Version)
Gepetto (Single Version)
Slow Dog (Radio Remix 3m 50 sec version)
Tracks 1-15 – Star LP
Tracks 16-20 – Slow Dust EP
Track 21 – Single Mix
Track 22 – US Single Promo
Disc 2 – Star Sessions
Gepetto (Remix) – Gepetto EP
Hot Burrito #1 – Gepetto EP
Sexy S – Gepetto EP
Sweet Ride – Gepetto EP
It’s Not Unusual – Gepetto EP (Remix Disc 2)
Star (Demo) – Gepetto EP (Remix Disc 2)
Dusted (Demo) – Gepetto EP (Remix Disc 2)
Are You Experienced? – Stone Free, A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
Feed The Tree (U.S. Remix) – Feed The Tree Single
Star (Full Band Version) – Feed The Tree Single
Dream On Me – Feed The Tree Single
Trust in Me – Feed The Tree Single
Slow Dog (Remix) – Video Version
Dusted – Indie Top 20 Compilation Volume 16 Version
Gepetto – UK 7” Version
It’s Not Unusual (Ivo’s Version) – Moon EP
It’s Not Unusual (The Usual Mix) – Moon EP
It’s Not Unusual (Unusual Mix) – Moon EP
Full Moon, Empty Heart (Lunar Mix) – Moon EP
Full Moon, Empty Heart (Bloody Mary Mix) – Moon EP
Disc 3 – King
Puberty
Seal My Fate
Red
Silverfish
Super-Connected
The Bees
King
Now They’ll Sleep
Untitled & Unsung
L’il Ennio
Judas My Heart
Tracks 1-11 – King LP
Disc 4 – King Sessions & Live Tracks
Judas My Heart (Live In London) – Sun EP1.
The Bees (Live In London) – Sun EP
Spaceman – Sun EP
Seal My Fate (U.S. Radio Version) – Seal My Fate (Studio)
Diamond Rib Cage – Seal My Fate (Studio)
Think About Your Troubles – Seal My Fate (Studio)
Broken – Vinyl B-Side
Seal My Fate (Live) – Seal My Fate (Live)
White Belly (Live) – Seal My Fate (Live)
Untitled & Unsung (Live) – Seal My Fate (Live)
Thief – Now They’ll Sleep
Baby’s Arm – Now They’ll Sleep
John Dark – Now They’ll Sleep
Lilith – Sweet Ride, The Best of Belly
Super-Connected (Edit) – Super-Connected
Judas Mon Coeur – Sun EP
Disc 5 – Live & BBC Session
Low Red Moon
Dusted
Angel
Full Moon, Empty Heart
Star
Dream on Me
White Belly
Gepetto
Sexy S
Feed The Tree
Slow Dog
Stay
Dusted
Feed The Tree
Gepetto
White Belly
Angel
Gepetto (US. Radio Mix)
Tracks 1-12 – Live Grant Park, Chicago, 7th April 1993
Track 13 – Unknown
Tracks 14-17 – Mark Goodier BBC Session, 25th July 1992
Trak 18 – US 7” Single
Disc 6 – Blu Ray/DVD Disc
Official Videos For The Singles
Gepetto
Feed The Tree
Slow Dog
Super-Connected
Now They’ll Sleep
Seal My Fate
TV Appearances
Full Moon Empty Heart (Later with Jools Holland 18th June 1993)
Slow Dog (Later with Jools Holland 18th June 1993)
Gepetto (BBC Late Show 1993) Can’t find the exact date.
Feed The Tree (Late Show with David Letterman 1993) Can’t find the exact date.
Gepetto (The John Stewart Show 1993) Can’t find the exact date.
Feed The Tree (The Word 1993) Can’t find the exact date.
Are You Experienced (The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 25th February 1994)
Seal My Fate (Late Night With Conan O’Brien 30th January 1995)
Super-Connected (Late Show with David Letterman 4th April 1995)
Red (The John Stewart Show 19th June 1995)
Super-Connected (Ray Coke’s MTV Most Wanted 22nd June 1995)
Seal My Fate (Ray Coke’s MTV Most Wanted 22nd June 1995)
Great Xpectations Finsbury Park 13th June 1993
Low Red Moon
Angel
Gepetto
Full Moon, Empty Heart
Sexy S
Star
Feed The Tree
Slow Dog
Dusted
Glastonbury 25th June 1993
Feed The Tree
Angel
White Belly
Glastonbury 23rd June 1995
King
Puberty
Now They’ll Sleep
Untitled & Unsung
Full Moon, Empty Heart
Dusted
Judas My Heart
Super-Connected
Feed The Tree
Slow Dog
Red
Seal My Fate
Gepetto
The cover is based on the 2016 vinyl pressing of ‘Star’.
Back in June, I produced a compilation looking at songs released by bands who made an impression on the charts in or just before the Britpop era, I thought it would be interesting to complete a counter compilation which looked at one of the later releases from bands associated with the era. This was inspired by me finding out that Elastic released a single called ‘The Bitch Don’t Work’ which came out in 2001. I thought the band split up after the release of the previous years ‘The Menace’ album so what other tracks were out there that I could pull together for a compilation. Well, this is what I came up with.
To qualify to be included in this compilation, the bands needed to have split up after the Britpop era (which I class as between 1994-1997), so bands that disbanded during that time (e.g. Lush) are not included.
Side A
Measured In Blood – Strangelove
Waster – Reef
Solve That – The Supernaturals
Lava Flow – Space
When I See Red – Echobelly
Side B
Vostok – Geneva
Falling Down (Radio Edit)
If I’m A Friend – Gene
Cobwebs – Cast
Side C
Why Can’t I Be You – Shed Seven
Car Crash – Supergrass
London Crawling – Rialto
Getting Your Way – Mansun
Forever In My Dreams – Pulp
Side D
The Bitch Don’t Work – Elastica
(We All Need A Little) Lifting – Dodgy
Sparkle (Acoustic) – Marion
Apple Core – Catatonia
Oxygen – Suede
Kingsize (Radio Edit) – The Boo Radleys
Measured In Blood – Strangelove
Just sneaking into the compilation as this song came out in 1998, ‘Measured In Blood’ was one of the B-Sides to the bands last single, ‘Another Night In’. Strangelove formed in Bristol in 1991, and had been waking waves in the mid 90s, especially when their song ‘Time For The Rest Of Your Life’ , which was Q Magazine’s single of the year. They disbanded in 1998 just as they seemed to be on the point of breaking through (their singles were breaking into the UK Top 40) as front man Patrick Duff felt the band had run its course. As of 2024, they have not reformed.
Waster – Reef
For those who lived through this period and watched Channel 4’s ‘TFI Friday’ will remember Reef as the band who had the lyrics of their song ‘Place Your Hands’ changed from ‘Put Your Hands On’ to ’It’s Your Letters’. Formed in Glastonbury in 1994, the band hit big when their first three albums broke into the UK top ten. ’Waster’ was their last single before they disbanded in 2003. The band reformed in 2010 and continue to perform to this day.
Solve That – The Supernaturals
Formed in Glasgow in 1991, the band are most probably best remembered for the 1997 song, ‘Smile’ The single was not as big a hit as I thought it was, just breaking into the UK top 25. It was used as part of the advertising campaign for Smile bank, the UK first fully digital bank. ‘Solve That’ was a B-Side to their last single, ‘Life Is A Motorway’. The band broke up in 2002 but reformed ten years later and have been together ever since.
Lava Flow – Space
Formed in Liverpool in 1992, Space were quite big in the Britpop era with their two albums of the period breaking into the Top 5 of the UK charts. A falling out with their record label lead them to be dropped with their proposed third album being shelved. ‘Lava Flow’ was the B-Side to their last single before they split up in 2005. However, the band reformed in 2011 and have been together ever since.
When I See Red – Echobelly
Formed in 1992 when singer Sonya Madan and guitarist Glenn Johansson met in a pub, the band hit the hights with their singles ‘Great Things’ and ‘King Of The Kerb’ but the momentum was lost after the band suffered from line up changes, legal and health issues. They took a break in 1997 before returning in 2001. ‘When I See Red’ was a B-Side to the penultimate single, ‘Tell Me Why’ with the group formally disbanding in 2004. Madan and Johansson would reform the band in 2009 and they continue to perform to this day.
Vostok – Geneva
Formed in Aberdeen in 1992, Geneva did not release any records until 1996 with third single, ‘Tranquilliser’ being the most successful by reaching number 24 in the UK charts. ‘Vostok’ was a B-Side of their last single to be released in their initial incarnation. The band split in 2000 but reformed in 2018 and have been together ever since.
Falling Down (Radio Edit) – Oasis
Formed in Manchester in 1991, Oasis burst onto the scene in 1993 with their no nonsense approached to playing, anthemic songs and sibling rivalry. Oasis were massive. All of their studio albums reached number 1 in the UK charts, and they even sold significant numbers in the USA. Their singles also sold significant numbers with only three of them not breaking into the UK top 10. It all came crashing down in 2009 when the bickering between the Gallagher brothers became too much and Noel left the band. This is the radio edit of the final A-Side, ‘Falling Down’. As of 2024, they have not reformed.
If I’m A Friend – Gene
Formed in 1993 out of the ashes of another band called Spin, Gene were classed as a Britpop band but they did draw comparisons between themselves and The Smiths because of lead singer, Martin Rossiter, was said to sound a bit like Morrisey. Their first two albums both broke into the UK top 10, with their singles from this period never went higher than number 14. Momentum was lost between the second and third albums. Their last album was released in 2001 and last single in 2004. ‘If I’m A Friend’ was a B-Side to this last single. The band disbanded in 2004 and as of 2024, they have not reformed.
Cobwebs – Cast
Formed in Liverpool in 1991 by ex-La’s bass player, John Power, Cast’s debut album ‘All Change’ became the highest selling debut album on the Polydor label at that time. A string of memorable singles followed including ‘Alright’, ‘FInetime’ and ‘Walkaway’ and the momentum continued with their second album, ‘Mother Nature Calls’. However, by the time of their last album, ‘Beetroot’, there was an attempt to change the sound and this did not go down with other members of the group and their disbanded in 2001. ‘Cobwebs’ was a B-Side for their last single, ‘Desert Drought’. The band reformed in 2010 and have been together ever since.
Why Can’t I Be You – Shed Seven
Formed in 1990 and hailing form York, Shed Seven were initially signed to Polydor but relations soured after the label decided to release best of in 1999. The band were not happy about this, feeling that it was too early into their careers for the retrospective of this nature but went along with it on the condition that two new songs from the compilation were released as singles. ‘Disco Down’ was duly released but the second was not as the label reissued three year old sing ‘Going For Gold’ instead. The band quit the label and found two more homes before deciding to call it a day in 2003. ‘Why Can’t I be You’ was their last single. The band did reform in 2007 and continue to perform to perform to this day.
Car Crash – Supergrass
Formed in Oxford in 1993, Supergrass became household names after their single ‘Alright’ reached number 2 in the UK single chart. The continued to release records up until 2008 when they split from long time label Parlophone after it had been taken over by a venture capitalist group. Singing for Cooking Vinyl, the band began recording their seventh album tentatively titled ‘Release The Drones’ but they split up before it could be finished. ‘Car Crash’ was the B-Side of their last single, but the band did reform in 2019 to play live but they have been on hiatus again since 2022.
London Crawling – Rialto
A late comer to the Britpop party, Rialto were formed in 1997 in London. Members of the band had previously worked in Kinky Machine, who had released two albums earlier in the decade. Even though they had started to place some singles in the charts, the band were dropped by their label before their debut album was released in most territories. Finding a new label, they failed to build on their initial sales and broke up in 2002. ‘London Crawling’ was their last single, which was a rerecording of the last song released by Kinky Machine.
Getting Your Way – Mansun
Formed in 1995 in Chester, main songwriter Paul Draper had been producing releasing tapes for sale across the north of England and been in a band called Grind before he and Steve King formed Mansun. Debut album, ‘Attack Of The Green Lantern’ was intended to be something very rare in this era, a concept album. However, it did not quite work out that way as Draper ran out of steam. The band split up in 203 after sessions for their forth album dragged on due to health issues and inter band divisions preventing recording from being completed. The final sessions were released as an album called ‘Kleptomania’ with ‘Getting Your Way’ was the opening track on the album as well as the B-Side to the only single released from this sessions. As of 2024, the band have not reformed.
Forever In My Dreams – Pulp
Formed as far back as 1978, Pulp had been recording artists for ten years before they started to dent the charts starting with their single ‘Razzmatazz’ in 1993. By the release of the 1998s, ‘This is Hardcore’, showed a more jaded band with a harsher sound. Wanting to release something more positive, they enlisted Scott Walker to produce but the album failed to meet expectations in terms of sales. Pulp disbanded in 2002. ‘Forever In My Dreams’ was a B-side to their final single of this era. The band have reformed a couple of times since, even releasing a one off single in 2013 called ‘After You’. They are still performing as of 2024.
The Bitch Don’t Work – Elastica
Elastica was formed in 1991 in London by Justine Frischmann and Justin Welch, whop had both been early members of Suede. Being signed to Radio 1 DJ Steve Lamacq’s record label gave them exposure, as well as Frichmann’s relationship with Blur front man, Damon Albarn. Their debut album was the fastest selling debut since Oasis’s a couple of years earlier, but they were dogged by accusations of plagiarism regarding a number of their songs. The band spent five years trying to record a follow up and by the time ‘The Menace’ was released, the bands time had passed. After failing to write enough material for a third album, the band released one final single, ‘The Bitch Don’t Work’ in 2001. As of 2024, the band have not reformed.
(We All Need A Little) Lifting – Dodgy
Formed in Hounslow in 1990, they released their first single on their own label in 1991 but it was once they had signed with A&M that they started to break into the charts. Classic era singles ‘Staying Out For The Summer’ and ‘Good Enough’ followed but a line up change and leaving their label lead to the band releasing their ‘Real Estate’ album on their own imprint once more. ‘(We All Need A Little) Lifting’ was their final single in this incarnation but the band reformed in 2007 and have been performing ever since.
Sparkle (Acoustic) – Marion
Formed in 1993 in Macclesfield, the stated off being lumped with the already old hat ‘Madchester’ scene and then thought of as a northern Suede, which the band felt did not help them. Their debut album, ‘This World & Body’ from 1996 reached number 10 in the UK charts, but the 18 month tour that followed it broke the band with front man Jamie Harding descending into heroin addiction. The band split up in 1999 with the acoustic version of their song ‘Sparkle’ one of the B-Sides on their last single. The band have reformed a disbanded a number of times since, and released some new music in 2016. As of 2024, they are still performing together.
Apple Core (Full Length Version) – Catatonia
Formed in 1992 in Cardiff, Catatonia were lumped in with the Cool Cymru movement. Formed by Cerys Matthews and Mark Roberts, the band received some media attention after they released their debut EP, ‘For Tinkerbell’. Sales and media attention steadily increased until they released ‘their ‘Mulder & Scully’ single, which reached number 3 in the UK chart. The band continued to release albums almost yearly but this took a toll on Matthews who went into rehab in 2001. The band split and the full length version of album track ‘Apple Core’ was the B-side to their last single. As of 2024, the band have not reformed.
Oxygen – Suede
Formed in 1989 in London, Suede were one of the original Britpop bands even though the band would not thank me for saying it. Their debut self titled album was the fastest selling debut album single ‘Welcome To The Pleasuredome’ by Frank Goes To Hollywood ten years earlier. Original guitar player, Bernard Butler left during the tense sessions of the second album but the band came back with a-vengeance with their third album. However, the momentum was lost with Anderson deadening into drug addiction. 2002’s ‘A New Morning’ album took two years to record and £1 million to make but sale were poor. The band decided to split in 2003 with the release of their singles compilation. On there was one new song, ‘Attitude’ with with ‘Oxygen’ being one of the B-Sides. The band reformed in 2010 and have been performing and releasing new music ever since.
Kingsize (Radio Edit) – The Boo Radleys
Formed in 1988 in Wallasey, The Boo Radleys made records that have been categorised as noise pop, dream pop and shoe gaze before ‘Wake Up Boo!’ came out in 1995. This slice of pop perfection was their biggest hit but it lead to main songwriter Martin Carr not wanting to repeat himself so they proceeded the ‘C’mon Kids’ album. It was a commercial disappointment and this continued with 1998s ‘Kingsize’. The band split up after the release of this album, with ‘Kingsize’ meant to be they last single A-Side. The release was cancelled but the band did return and put out new music in 2022, without Martin Carr.
Even though tapes were on the way out by the time the last of the songs on this compilation was released, it just seemed to be the perfect image for this cover.
Unlike the ‘Early Alternatives’ compilation from June (https://www.thesquirepresents.co.uk/various-artists-early-alternatives/), this would fit nicely onto a CD but being me but I have compiled this as though it were a vinyl release.
And so we come to the last of my alternatives of the first four Smashing Pumpkins albums. Considering the dramas that had plagued the band as they recorded their first two albums, they paled into what happened on the Mellon Collie tour. Both dummer Jimmy Chamberlain and touring keyboard player, Jonathan Melvoin overdosed on heroin. Melvoin unfortunately died. Chamberlain survived but was fired form the group.
Corgan had also felt that he had taken guitar driven rock as far as he could so he decided that the next album would be a very different beast. This proved to be the case with more electronica and acoustic guitar were used a lot more. The first evidence of this being the song ‘Eye’, which featured on the soundtrack to the David Lynch movie, ‘Lost Highway’. After contributing a song to the ‘Batman & Robin’ movie (called ‘The End Is the Beginning Is the End’), mains songwriter Billy Corgan suggested that this songs electronic/guitar hybrid was the future sound of the band. However, their next album which was called ‘Adore’ did not sound like this single at all.
The album had a more somber feel to it compared to the Pumpkins albums that came before it. This could be attributed to the death of Morgan’s mother and divorce from his then wife. The change of direction was praised by the critics but it affected sales with this being the first Pumpkins record not to outsell its predecessor. The hard rock guitar sound would return for their fifth album, ‘Machina/The Machines Of God’ which came out in 2000.
What I did not realise when I bought ‘Adore’ on vinyl back in 1998 was that this mix was in mono. The clues were there in that the record label was red, the same as the Decca Record label would do for their mono releases back in the 1960s. Stereo releases on Decca at the same time had blue labels. I should have been able to work it out with my ears as well but it was only with the release of the deluxe edition 2014 that I realised there were two different mixes. I have followed the same track listing as the vinyl with one difference. The original vinyl came as a three sided affair, so for my version, the fourth side it comes with a selection of B-Sides which are all the original versions of these songs.
Side A
To Shelia – Early Banjo Version (Adore Deluxe)
Ava Adore – Puffy Combs Remix 1998 (Adore Deluxe)
Perfect – Nellie Hooper Mix (Rarities & B-Sides)
Daphne Descends – Live: Sao Paulo Session (Adore Deluxe)
Once Upon A Time – Sadlands Demo (Adore Deluxe)
Side B
Tear – From Digital Transfer (Adore Deluxe)
Crestfallen – Matt Walker Realigned 2014 (Adore Deluxe)
Appels + Oranjes (Adore Deluxe)
Pug – Matt Walker Reimagined (Adore Deluxe)
The Tale Of Dusty & Pistol Pete – Sandlands Demo (Adore Deluxe)
Side C
Annie-Dog – Take 10/CRC Demo (Adore Deluxe)
Shame – Take 1 (Adore Deluxe)
Behold! The Night Mare – Alternative Vocal (Adore Deluxe)
For Martha – Take 1/CRC Demo (Adore Deluxe)
Blank Page – Early Version (Adore Deluxe)
Side D
Daphne Descends – Kerry B. Mix (Perfect Single B-Side)
Summer – Perfect (Single B-Side)
Once In A While (Ava Adore Single B-Side)
Czarina (Ava Adore Single B-Side)
Call Out Hook (Crestfallen/To Shelia Single Bonus Track)
This is the third entry in my on going series of Beach Boys yearly deep dive box sets and this one is posted today as it celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the US release of the ‘All Summer Long’ LP
1964 was a challenging year for the artists that had been setting the music trends in the US because this was the year in which the British Invasion occurred. The Beatles had started to dominate the charts and any American artist who did not want to get left behind needed to adapt. The Brian Jones haircut was a regular request at the barbers and some bands even adopted names (such as The Palace Guard) to make themselves sound more British. Though Brian Wilson had been influenced by Phil Spector, he would start to keep more of an eye on what The Beatles were doing and it would not be long before he felt he needed to compete with them. A friendly rivalry would ensue between the two grounds between now and 1967.
This was also a year of turmoil for The Beach Boys. Murray Wilson, the bands manager and father of the Wilson brothers was relived of his duties. Murray was seen as an overbearing precedes in the bands life, trying to control their lifestyles and offering, often unwanted advice on how studio sessions should proceed. One of these was infamously recorded by the studio engineer and has been doing the rounds on bootlegs for years.
It would also see Brian Wilson suffer a panic attack whilst on a flight from Los Angeles to Houston. The pressures of touring, writing and producing the records had become too much for him. The fact that he was working with outside artists as well had also pilled on the work load. It was agreed by the rest of the ban that he should concentrate on the study and that someone else should take his place. Initially, this was future country legend Glen Campbell.
Brian Wilson was also experimenting with different instruments and with more session players to expand the overall sound. This included the use of harpsichord, marimba, glockenspiel as well as actual saxophone players. Mike Love is a lot of things but a saxophone player he is not.
Like 1963, they would also release three albums, the last one being a Christmas album. This is not covered in this compilation but will receive its own entry at the end of this year.
Once again, I have tried to include as many versions of the songs as possible including sessions, false starts and breakdowns included. One track, ’Our Favourite Recording Session’ does not seem to have ever been released in stereo. Even on the stereo album, this was released in mono only.
Don’t Worry Baby (Stereo Session Outtake With Alternate Lead Vocal) – 6
Don’t Worry Baby (Single Version) – 7
Don’t Worry Baby (Mono) – 4
Don’t Worry Baby (Stereo) – 4
Don’t Worry Baby (2009 Stereo Mix) – 2
Don’t Worry Baby (2021 Stereo Mix) – 24
Disc 2
Disc 2 is a little sparse when it come to outtakes. It would seem that the bootleggers were not able to get their hands on those session tapes or possibly they have gone missing.
Koma (Radio Promo Slot) – 8
“Cassius” Love Vs ‘Sonny” Wilson (Mono) – 4
“Cassius” Love Vs ‘Sonny” Wilson (Stereo) – 4
The Warmth Of The Sun (Mono) – 4
The Warmth Of The Sun (Stereo) – 4
This Car Of Mine (Mono) – 4
This Car Of Mine (Stereo) – 4
Radio Spot #1 – 8
Why Do For Fall In Love? (Session Highlights/Stereo Mix) – 2
Why Do For Fall In Love? (Extended Version) – 9
Why Do For Fall In Love? (Mono) – 4
Why Do For Fall In Love? (Stereo) – 4
Why Do For Fall In Love? (2009 Stereo Mix) – 6
Why Do For Fall In Love? (New Stereo Mix) – 2
Radio Spot #3 – 8
Pom Pom Play Girl (Session Highlights/Instrumental Mix With Backing Vocals) – 2
Pom Pom Play Girl (Vocal Session Highlights) – 6
Pom Pom Play Girl (Mono) – 4
Pom Pom Play Girl (Stereo) – 4
Pom Pom Play Girl (New Stereo Mix) – 2
Radio Spot #4 – 8
Keep An Eye On Summer (Instrumental Mix With Backing Vocals) – 2
Dance, Dance, Dance (Alternative Version, New Stereo Mix) -16
Disc 9
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (Rehearsal) – 16
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (Takes 1 – 9) – 16
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (Takes 10 – 18) – 16
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (Takes 19 – 36) – 16
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (Take 37 & Outro Instrumentals) – 16
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (Instrumental Insert Take 1) – 16
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (Instrumental Insert Takes 2 & 3) – 16
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (Instrumental Insert Take 4) – 16
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (Instrumental Insert Take 5) – 16
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (Instrumental Insert Unknown Take) – 16
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (1st Vocal Overdub) – 16
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (2nd Vocal Overdub Takes 1 – 12) – 16
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (2nd Vocal Overdub Take 13) – 16
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (2nd Vocal Overdub Take 14) – 16
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (Backing Track With A Capella Fragment) – 19
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (A Capella) – 2
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (Vocals & Music ReChannelled) – 8
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (Mono) – 17
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (Duophonic) – 17
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (Stereo) – 18
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (New Stereo Mix) – 22
Disc 10
Don’t Hurt My Little Sister (Take 1) – 16
Don’t Hurt My Little Sister (Take 2) – 16
Don’t Hurt My Little Sister (Take 3) – 16
Don’t Hurt My Little Sister (Take 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8) – 16
Don’t Hurt My Little Sister (Take 10) – 16
Don’t Hurt My Little Sister (Take 11, 12 & 13) – 16
Don’t Hurt My Little Sister (Takes 14, 15, 16 & 17) – 16
Don’t Hurt My Little Sister (Take 18) – 16
Don’t Hurt my Little Sister (Instrumental Overdub) – 23
Don’t Hurt My Little Sister (1st Vocal Overdub) – 16
Don’t Hurt My Little Sister (2nd Vocal Overdub) – 16
Don’t Hurt My Little Sister (Session Highlight/A Capella Mix)- 2
Don’t Hurt My Little Sister (Mono) – 17
Don’t Hurt My Little Sister (Duophonic) – 17
Don’t Hurt My Little Sister (Stereo) – 18
Don’t Hurt My Little Sister (Unknown Stereo Mix) – 16
Kiss Me, Baby (Takes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6) – 16
Kiss Me, Baby (Take 7) – 16
Kiss Me, Baby (Take 8) – 16
Kiss Me, Baby (Take 9) – 16
Kiss Me, Baby (1st Vocal Overdub) – 16
Kiss Me, Baby (2nd Vocal Overdub) – 16
Kiss Me, Baby (A Capella Mix) – 3
Kiss Me, Baby (Mono) – 17
Kiss Me, Baby (Duophonic) – 17
Kiss Me, Baby (1998 Stereo Mix) – 21
Kiss Me, Baby (2000 Stereo Mix) – 6
Kiss Me, Baby (2012 Stereo Mix) – 20
On the previous collections, I looked to place the track as they corresponded to the running order on their original albums. However, this proved to be impractical in this case so I have looked to fill as much music onto as few CDs as I can.
The history of music is full of stories of musicians being badly treated by the industry, but arguably the most infamous case is that of Badfinger. Originally hailing from Swansea in South Wales, the band went by a few names before settling on The Iveys, named after Ivey Place, a street in their home town. In mid 1966, the band moved to London and started to make a name for themselves on the live circuit. They also converted a room in their shared house in Golders Green into a makeshift studio. This allowed the band to produce a number of demo recordings. Record labels started to show some interest and Ray Davies of The Kinks produced some demos.
In early 1968, Mal Evans and Peter Asher from Apple Records saw the band at The Marquee Club and this would lead to the band not only securing a recording contract but a publishing deal. The band had a massive backlog of songs that they had demoed as all four members were writers. Over the next twelve months, the band would spend time in the recording studio preparing songs for a debut album. Before 1968 had finished, the band had released their first single. ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ was one of the first UK productions by Tony Visconti and even though Paul McCartney felt sure that the song would be a hit, it failed to make any impression on the UK charts and only managed to reach 67 in the USA. It was more successful in other countries, being number 1 in the Netherlands as well as being a major hit in a few countries in continental Europe and Japan.
‘Dear Angie’ was selected as the second single and was scheduled to come out on the same day as the parent album, also called ‘Maybe Tomorrow’. Another song by the band was included on an EP from the Apple Records promoting Walls Ice Cream. Things were looking up, but then Allen Klein took over the running of Apple Corps. Apple Corps were haemorrhaging money and Klein was brought in to offer financial as well managerial stability. What this meant though was that the album The Iveys were working on was only released where ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ had been a hit.
Bass player Ron Griffiths complained in an interview with a music magazine about the band feeling that they were being neglected by Apple. Paul McCartney saw this and offered the band the song ‘Come & Get It’. McCartney had been commissioned to write some songs for the soundtrack of a film called ‘The Magic Christian’. McCartney decided to fulfil this commission by producing two songs The Iveys had written. These songs were ‘Carry On To Tomorrow’ and ‘Rock Of Ages’.
It was also at this point that the band decided that they needed a change of name. The Iveys sounded a little old fashioned for the time and was quite close to another band, The Ivy League. Numerous names were suggested but they decided to use Badfinger, based on ‘Badfinger Boogie’ which was the working title of The Beatles ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’.
With a change in the name also came with a change in the lineup. Ron Griffiths was dismissed from the band. Being the only married member of the group and had also recently become a father created some friction with the other members. Guitar player Tom Evans convinced the rest of the group that Griffiths was not one of the boys anymore and a replacement was sought. Guitarist Joey Molland was hired and Evans moved to bass. ‘Come & Get It’ was a major in the US and UK and the band continued to produce quality power pop records for the next five years. This would include writing the song ‘Without You’ which was a massive hit for Harry Nilsson, as well as Mariah Carey.
The tragic story of what happened to Badfinger is one for another day. This is a box set dedicated to their earlier incarnation as The Iveys. This includes the original album as well as numerous demos, alternative versions and even recording they made under other names. These are The Pleasure Garden and the song Permissive Paradise. This was released on the flip of an obscure flexi single where the A-Side looks a ‘Young London’ as seen though the eyes of DJ Emperor Rosko & Jonathan King. The other is where they were the backing band for the David Garrick LP, ‘Blow Up Live’. On that album, they are known as The Dandy. Well, the internet says they were The Dandy but there isn’t a lot of evidence for this but I included it here anyway.
Disc 1 – Orignal Album & Mono Mixes
See-Saw, Granpa
Beautiful & Blue
Dear Angie
Think About The Good Times
Yesterday Ain’t Coming Back
Fisherman
Maybe Tomorrow
Sali Bloo
Angelique
I’m In Love
They’re Knocking Down Our Home
I’ve Been Waiting
Maybe Tomorrow (Mono)
And Her Daddy’s A Millionaire (Mono)
Dear Angie (Mono)
No Escaping Your Love (Mono)
Storm In A Teacup (Mono)
See-Saw, Grandpa (Mono)
Think About The Good Times (Mono)
Yesterday Ain’t Coming Back (Mono)
Sali Bloo (Mono Mix with Was Way Intro)
Maybe Tomorrow (US Mono Mix)
Disc 2 – Sessions & Alternative Versions
And Her Daddy’s A Millionaire (Drum Count In)
Storm In A Teacup (Stero)
Maybe Tomorrow*
Sali Bloo**
No Escaping Your Love (Drum Count In)
Arthur (Drum Count In)
Looking For My Baby
Fisherman (Intro Edited)
And Her Daddy’s A Millionaire (Stereo Remix)
No Escape (No Drum Intro)
Mrs Jones
I’ve Been Waiting (Unedited Stereo Remix)
Clown Of The Party
Carry On ‘Till Tomorrow***
Crimson Ship***
Give It A Try***
Midnight Sun***
And Her Daddy’s A Millionaire (Alternative Version)
**When the ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ album was re-released on CD, the stereo channels had been reversed on this song (for reasons unknown)
*** When the ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ album was re-released on CD, ‘Salt Bloo’ had the wah-wah into edited (for reasons unknown)
***All of these songs were included on the first Badfinger album ‘Magic Christian Music’. However, each of these songs were cut to acetate with The Iveys name on them. These are included here for completeness.
Disc 3 – Demos
All are band demos unless noted
Take Good Care Of My Baby
And I Love Her
Walk Out In The Rain
Taxi
Black & White Rainbows
Tomorrow’s Today
Mr. Strangeways
Maybe Tomorrow
I’ve Been There Once Before
Man Without A Heart
I Believe In You Girl (Version 1)
She Came Out Of The Cold (Version 1)
The Girl Next Door In A Mini-Skirt (Faded Ending)
They’re Knocking Down Our Home (Pete Demo)
I’m In Love (Pete Demo)
Black & White Rainbows (Pete Demo)
Mrs. Jones (Pete Demo)
I’ve Been There Once Before (Pete Demo)
The Leaves (Version 1)
The Leaves (Version 2)
The Leaves (Version 3)
The Leaves (Version 4)
The Leaves (Version 5)
The Leaves (Version 6)
Untitled Guitar Demo
Words Without You
Bingo Comment (Hidden track)
Disc 4 – Radio Sessions & Demos
Surrender (Radio Session)
Proud Mary (Radio Session)
Maybe Tomorrow (Radio Session)
Harmonising
Man Without A Heart
The Girl Next Door In A Mien-Skirt (Unfaded Ending)
Turn On Your Lovin’ Mood
It Takes So Long
Handsome Malcolm (Practise)
Handsome Malcolm
Hey Baby
Mr. Strangeways
I’ll Kiss You Goodnight
Sausage & Eggs
Another Day
I Believe in You Girl (Version 2)
Love Hurts
For My Sympathy
How Does It Feel
Bittersweet Adieu
I’m Too Shy
Tube Train
She Cam Out Of The Cold (Version 2)
Untitled Instrumental
Stay By Me
Christmas Flexi
Disc 5 – Pseudonyms
See See Rider
Mr. Pleasant
Words
Simon Said
If I Were A Carpenter
Medley
Rainbow
Please Mr. Moving Man
Lady Jane
Dear Mr’s Applebee’s
River Deep Mountain High
Dandy
Gimme Little Sign
Dedicated Follower Of Fashion
World
Bend Me Shape Me
Permissive Paradise
Disc 6 – Live At The Empire, Neath (7th June 1966)
Keep On Running
My Babe
Youngblood
Love Hurts
Buzz With The Fuzz
Hey, Girl
Crocodile Walk
Crawling Up A Hill
Daddy Rolling Stone
The Fool
Tell Me What You’re Gonna Do
Stupidity
It’s All Right
I Go Crazy
Sitting On My Sofa
See Saw
I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself
Keep A Driving
Everything Is Gonna Be Alright
What Kind Of Boy
Keep On Running
Disc 7 – Live At The Thingamajig Club, Reading (6th September 1968)
Walk Away Renee
So You Want To Be A Rock ’N’ Roll Star
River Deep, Mountain High
Crawling Up A Hill
Respect
N.S.U.
Summertime Blues
634-5789
Long Tall Sally
Purple Haze
Stone Free
Storm In A Teacup
Release Me
Hide Away
No Escaping Your Love
Lady Madonna
When Will I Be Loved
The Letter
And Her Daddy’s A Millionaire
It Ain’t Necessarily So/Summertime
Needle In A Haystack
I Thank You
The cover is the same as the 1968 album
Peter Ham recorded a lot of demos during his life time, and many have been released down the years. However, this might not be a complete collection of the ones recorded during the time when the band were called The Iveys as the collection of these demo recordings do not give dates of when they were recorded.
I took a couple months off between SP releases but I now present an alternative version of their most successful and some might say, overblown album. Well, in their first phase anyway.
Mellon Collie & Infinite Sadness was a true double album for the CD age with around a hours worth of music on each disc. There was so much music that the limited edition vinyl release of this album back in 1995 were a triple set. I was quite surprised see this get a vinyl release back int he day as I was relying informed by my friends that vinyl was dead. Needless to say, the LP was a sound investment if I was ever tempted to sell it.
Anyway, Corgan brought so many songs to the sessions that a box set of the singles was released which contained around 30 fully recorded songs, very few of which was filler. He was most defiantly on a hot streak here.
New co-producers in the form of Alan Moulder and Flood came on board and new working practises were adopted. The included working more together as a band by rehearsing together before they went into the studio. Time was set aside for jamming as well as James Iha and D’arcy Wretazky given more of an opportunity to contribute musically to the album. This was also the first album where Iha was given some space to include a couple of his songs he written by himself instead of in collaboration with Corgan. More would be included on the singles as B-Sides. The album was a massive seller, shipping over 5 million unites in the USA alone. It did beg the question though, where could the band go next?
This reconstruction of ‘Mellon Collie & Infinite Sadness’ does not quite follow the original vinyl because some of the sides would be too long for the record to sound any good due to the grooves being too close together. Looking at vinyl double albums in my collection, most run between 70 and 90 odd minutes, but this one went on for a mind blowing 121 (CD & cassette) and 128 minutes (for the original 1995 vinyl release). It fully utilised the time afforded with a CD. With traditional vinyl, that would a be triple and so it proved with the 1995 vinyl release doing just that. The band included two bonus tracks not included on the CD version to make up the time as well.
I do have one question about this LP and it is, was this the only triple album of new music released in the 1990s? I would love someone to confirm that. The only other triples vinyls I can think of from the decade were The Beatles ‘Anthology’ LPs’.
Side A
Mellon Collie & Infinite Sadness – Home Piano Demo (Mellon Collie & Infinite Sadness Deluxe)
Tonight, Tonight – Band Version, No Strings (Mellon Collie & Infinite Sadness Deluxe)
After completing a second volume of the compilation ‘Caught Beneath The Landslide’, I found that I have music left over to make a third volume.
So here we have another four disc set of tracks from Britpop big hitters, second division acts and a section of songs from bands who were part of the scene but their records weren’t successful at the time, or any time for that matter.
Disc 1
The Living Dead (Piano Version) – Suede
Information Man – The Farm
Her Jazz – Huge Bear
Feel The Pain – Dinosaur Jr.
Punk Boy – Ash
Wembley – The Candyskins
French Disko – Stereolab
Cat’s Chorus – Lush
Planet In The Ocean – Salad
Modern History (Acoustic) – The Auterus
Blue (US Mix) – The Verve
Lewis (Mistreated) – Radiohead
Time Baby III – Medicine
Teenage Emergency – Flamingoes
Happy Day – Blink
You’re Always Right – These Animal Men
Zoo’d Out – Strangelove
Snakedriver – The Jesus & Mary Chain
It’s A Fire – Portishead
Big Nurse – Sleeper
Take Me Away – Oasis
Sunshine Smile – Adorable
Even When Your Eyes Are Open – Leviathon
Disc 2
Addicted To A.T.V. – The High Fidelity
Shut Up – The Sweeney
The Joy Of Living – Blueboy
Mr. Appointment – Shack
Under Canvas Wraps – The Delgados
Checking In, Checking Out – The High Llamas
Whirlpool (1995 Version) – BMX Bandits
Hypersonic – Fluffy
Cleopatra – Elastica
Brains – Nut
Sleep – Marion
Steve Austin – Sexlovebusterbaby
Delicious – Shampoo
Firebox – Lick
The Young Own The Town – Soda
I Suppose – Puresence
Look At You Now – Elcka
Don’t Say You’re Sorry – Blameless
Being Brave – Menswear
6am Jullander Shere – Cornershop
An Open Letter To The Lyrical Transporter – Mansun
Disc 3
Egotripper – The Kind
Wake Up America – Poppyheads
Mum’s Gone To Iceland – Bennett
No Bell At Bognor – Twister
Mermaid – Posh
Ginger – David Devant & His Spirit Wife
We Love You – Subcircus
Get Out Of Cities – Blur
I Can’t Make it – Dodgy
Vote You – The Boo Radleys
Summer Smash – Denim
Chill Out – Pa Skinny
One In A Million – Sussed
Polly’s Domain – Coast
Ever – Descent
1962 – Grass Show
Punka – Kenickie
Dance Of The Bad Angel (Archive Mix) – Booth & The Bad Angel
Keep The Light On – Geneva
Since – Mercedes
Huckleberry Grove – Ocean Colour Scene
Adrenalina – Octopus
24 – The Hybrids
Disc 4
Theme From Dweeb – Dweeb
First Foot – Po!
Somebody’s Follow Me – Speedomatic
Four Skinny Indie Kids – Half Man Half Biscuit
(Never Be A) Milksop – Ricky Spontane
Fat Neck – Black Grape
Torra Fy Ngwallt Yn Hir – Super Furry Animals
That’s Why We Lose Control – The Young Offenders
Lava – Silver Sun
Long Live The UK Music Scene – Helen Love
Drive In – Catch
Govinda, Hari & St. George – Kula Shaker
Something To Tell Her – Topper
Ciao – Lodger
Fantastic Legs – The Yummy Fur
Tiny Meat (Original Version) – Ruby
Beatnik Girl – Snug
Grease – 18 Wheeler
You Make Me Want To Scream – The Dandy
Liar – Pullover
Come & Go – Astral
Bad Old Man – Babybird
Rolled On Southern Blues – Mainstream
Hanging Around – Me Me Me
The front cover is similar to Volume 1 with different bands added. The cover stars are as follows.
Top row (l to r) – Ocean Colour Scene, Dodgy, Stereolab
Middle row (l to r) – Kula Shaker, Silver Sun, Booth & the Bad Angel
Bottom row (l to r) – BMX Bandits, Mansun, Radiohead
Volume 2 can be found at this link. – https://www.thesquirepresents.co.uk/various-artists-caught-beneath-the-landslide-volume-2/
Now this was a compilation I really enjoyed putting together. All bands/artists start somewhere before making it, so I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the earliest releases by a number of the more well known bands that have graced some of the compilations I have posted this month. What was most interesting for me was how long some of the bands were plying their trade before finding success. Pulp being the most extreme by taken the best part of a decade.
Side 1
It’s Not True – The Wonder Stuff
Who Wants to Know – The Charlatans
I Know (Single Version) – Blur
You Can – Catatonia
Sway (12” Mix) – Ocean Colour Scene
The Last Days Of Winter – The Levellers
Disc 2
It Happens – Primal Scream
What’s The World – James
Oasis – Happy Mondays
Art – Suede
Strange Ones (Backbeat Version) – Supergrass
Same Old Story – The Farm
Here It Comes – The Stone Roses
Side 3
Give Me Less Time – Inspired Carpets
Everybody’s Problem – Blur
Heaven Can Wait – Salad
Quite Content – The Soup Dragons
Seance Sight – Lush
Seems Like A Bad Day – Dodgy
Endless – The La’s
Side 4
Walking 5th Carnival – The Boo Radleys
Columbia (White Label Demo) – Oasis
One Way To Go – The Verve
The Waning Moon – The Mock Turtles
It’s Not True – The Wonder Stuff – First song on their first EP (called ‘A Wonderful Day’), from 1986.
Who Wants to Know – The Charlatans – Second of the two B-Sides issued with their debut single from 1990. The A-Side was called ‘Indian Rope’.
I Know (Single Version) – Blur – B-Side of their debut single from 1990. This is the shorter version of the song which was initially only available on the 7’ single. The A-Side was ‘She’s So High’.
You Can – Catatonia – B-Side of the their debut single from 1994. The A-Side was called ‘Whale’.
Sway (12” Mix) – Ocean Colour Scene – ‘Sway’ was the A-Side of the bands debut single. This was the longer version that was released on the 12” version of that single. Released in 1990.
The Last Days Of Winter – The Levellers – The opening song on the bands debut release, a cassette EP called ‘All The Free Commons of England’ from 1988.
It Happens – Primal Scream – The B-Side of their debuts single from 1985. The A-Side was called ‘All Fall Down’.
What’s The World – James – The B-Side of the bands debut EP called ‘Jimone’ from 1983. This was the first of two B-Sides included on that release.
Oasis – Happy Mondays – The second of two B-Sides from the bands first EP from 1985. The EP was called ‘Forty-Five EP’. This song was not the inspiration for the band of the same name.
Art – Suede – The only song on this compilation to not be officially released, now or then. It got as far as a white label stage in 1989 but was rejected by the band as they were dissatisfied with it. The line up was included both Justine Freshman and Justin Welch who would later form the band Elastica. ‘Art’ was the B-Side of this release with ‘Be My God’ on the other. If this fantasy compilation release were to ever happen, to have a genuine rarity like this included would be a necessity.
Strange Ones (Backbeat Version) – Supergrass – The B-Side of their debut single from 1994. Re-rerecorded once the band had signed for Parlophone. The A-Side was ‘Caught By The Fizz’. I could have included a song by The Jennifers, as two members of Supergrass were in that band. However, I did not as I covered them for my fantasy Record Store Release back in April https://www.thesquirepresents.co.uk/rsd-special-the-jennifers-the-complete-recordings/.
Same Old Story – The Farm – The fourth song on their debut EP, called ‘Hearts & Minds’ from 1989
Here It Comes – The Stone Roses – This was the B-Side of the ‘Sally Cinnamon’ single, released in 1987.
Give Me Less Time – Inspiral Carpets – Inspiral carpets released two albums worth of songs on a couple of cassettes in 1987. Some of the songs were re-recorded for later records but this song was not (as far as I can tell), even though it did appear on a couple of cassette collections of demos in the same year.
Everybody’s Problem – Pulp – This was the bands second single, but unlike the first, this was a non album release. This was the A-Side and was released in 1983.
Heaven Can Wait – Salad – The third song on their debut EP called ‘Kent’ from 1993.
Quite Content – The Soup Dragons – The first song on their debut EP, ‘The Sun Is In The Sky’ from 1986.
Second Sight – Lush – Taken from their Mini LP, ‘Scar’, released in 1989. What was surprising is that the mini album came out before their released any singles.
Seems Like A Bad Day – Dodgy – The B-Side to the second single, released in 1991. The A-Side was called ‘Easy Way’.
Endless – The La’s – The B-Side to the debut single, released in 1987. The A-Side was called ‘Way Out’.
Walking 5th Carnival – The Boo Radleys – This was the sixth song on their debut LP, released in 1990. Like Lush, they released an album before they had released a single.
Columbia (White Label Demo) – Oasis – Released in 1993 as a single-sided white label as a way of introducing the band to the world.
One Way To Go – The Verve – The B-Side of their debut single from 1992. The A-Side was ‘All In The Mind’.
The Waning Moon – The Mock Turtles – The fourth song on their debut EP. Called ‘Pomona’ and it was released in 1987.
The cover is from the Twitter (or X, or whatever Elon Musk wants to call it this week) account of Images That Could Be Album Covers (@imagesalbum)
Oasis, like Suede, were well known for the quality of their early B-Sides. Therefore, it would have been a no briner to complete one, but someone got there first. Namely, the band themselves when they put out ‘The Masterplan’ in 1998
Unlike Suede, a key member did not leave early on to act as a convenient cut off point for a new collection so I couldn’t replicate the method I used to compile the ‘Sci-Fi Lullabies’ idea from back in February. I therefore took a slightly different angle for this entry as Oasis did sneak a few cover versions on to their B- Sides So here they are compiled, with one live track from the ‘Familiar To Millions’ LP.
Side A
Street Fighting Man (Rolling Stones) – All Around The World (1998)
Within You, Without You (The Beatles) – BBC Sgt Pepper 40th Anniversary Tribute (2007)
Hey Hey, My My Into The Black (Neil Young) – Familiar To Millions (2000)
My Generation (The Who) – Little By Little (2002)
Cum On Feel The Noize (Slade) – Don;t Look Back In Anger (1996)
Side B
Helter Skelter (The Beatles) – Who Feels Love? (2000)
You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away (The Beatles) – Some Might Say Japanese CD (1995)
Heroes (David Bowie) – D’You Know What I Mean? (1997)
I Am The Walrus (The Beatles) – Cigarettes & Alcohol (1994)
Bonus 12”
This includes their cover of the classic Slade Christmas song. The second side is a BBC interview with Noel Gallagher talking about the recording process for Within’ You, Without You.
A. Merry Christmas Everyone
B. Within You, Without You (Recording Process)
‘Heroes’ is not only one of the covers on here, it serves as a pretty apt title because these songs come from artists that inspired Noel Gallagher. The cover comes from imgur user LisaBerglund.
