UPDATED: Two new songs added; see tracklist below.
As promised, we're skipping back in time from the debut of the re-tooled, modern-rock Del Amitri with Waking Hours in 1989, to the debut of the original, alt-coustic, small-d del Amitri in 1985. Actually, in this brief five-song installment, we're going back even further than that, to the band's indie-label first single from '83, Sense Sickness b/w The Difference Is. The latter song was re-recorded as a b-side of the Hammering Heart 12" single, but that was later appended to the excellent Superfecta reissue of the first album along with three other b-sides (two originals and a cover of "Brown Eyed Girl") which are therefore not included here. However, the A-side of that 12" was a hot, re-recorded version of Hammering Heart, which was not included on the cd reissue, so it is here! Perhaps the rarest track here is "Out In The Wind", which appeared only on a 12" single included with an issue of UK music rag Record Mirror, and seems to date from the period of the first album or just after. The final song here is the very silly "Charlie's Bar", a free fan-club flexi-disc Christmas record from late 1986. Intriguing and fun but not necessarily good for too many repeat listens, maybe just once a year around the holidays. Just like the Xmas records the Beatles used to make!
As promised, we're skipping back in time from the debut of the re-tooled, modern-rock Del Amitri with Waking Hours in 1989, to the debut of the original, alt-coustic, small-d del Amitri in 1985. Actually, in this brief five-song installment, we're going back even further than that, to the band's indie-label first single from '83, Sense Sickness b/w The Difference Is. The latter song was re-recorded as a b-side of the Hammering Heart 12" single, but that was later appended to the excellent Superfecta reissue of the first album along with three other b-sides (two originals and a cover of "Brown Eyed Girl") which are therefore not included here. However, the A-side of that 12" was a hot, re-recorded version of Hammering Heart, which was not included on the cd reissue, so it is here! Perhaps the rarest track here is "Out In The Wind", which appeared only on a 12" single included with an issue of UK music rag Record Mirror, and seems to date from the period of the first album or just after. The final song here is the very silly "Charlie's Bar", a free fan-club flexi-disc Christmas record from late 1986. Intriguing and fun but not necessarily good for too many repeat listens, maybe just once a year around the holidays. Just like the Xmas records the Beatles used to make!
The
band's sound at this point was kinetic and original, with intersecting,
angular acoustic guitar lines that always remind me of a folkier, more
melodic -- and romantic -- version of Television, as I said in my last
post. I should note that, in addition to Justin Currie and Iain Harvie
(the only two permanent Dels), the band members during this period
included Bryan Tolland playing one of those interesting, intersecting
guitars and the convivial Paul Tyagi on drums. Credit is also due to the
band's early manager, Barbara Shores, for working diligently to build
them a fan base both in the UK and in the States, where they did a
fan-sponsored "Whistle Stop Tour" in the summer of 1986. I was
privileged to attend the band's very first American concert at Maxwell's
in Hoboken, as well as receive lots of correspondence and free goodies
from the band back in the day. Thanks Barbara! Wherever you are, this
installment of The Rare Stuff is dedicated to you!
(Vinyl rips>wav>mp3@320)
UPDATED: Added "What She Calls It" from rare flexi - pre-1st-single track; and "Hammer and Peach" from Park Lane Archives compilation - from post-1st-album sessions.
TRACK LIST:
What She Calls It Stand and Deliver [Flexidisc]
Sense Sickness Sense Sickness [7"]
The Difference Is (Original Version) Sense Sickness [7"]
Hammering Heart (Re-Recorded Version) Hammering Heart [12"]
Out In The Wind Record Mirror RM2 [12"]
Hammer and Peach Park Lane Archives
Charlie's Bar Charlie's Bar [Fan Club Flexi-Disc]
UPDATED: Added "What She Calls It" from rare flexi - pre-1st-single track; and "Hammer and Peach" from Park Lane Archives compilation - from post-1st-album sessions.
TRACK LIST:
What She Calls It Stand and Deliver [Flexidisc]
Sense Sickness Sense Sickness [7"]
The Difference Is (Original Version) Sense Sickness [7"]
Hammering Heart (Re-Recorded Version) Hammering Heart [12"]
Out In The Wind Record Mirror RM2 [12"]
Hammer and Peach Park Lane Archives
Charlie's Bar Charlie's Bar [Fan Club Flexi-Disc]
Link in comments...
LINK: http://www6.zippyshare.com/v/55221731/file.html
ReplyDeletelink no longer works :-(
DeleteThank you Thank you Thank you! I haven't heard Out In The Wind for over 20 years. I sent off for the EP and played this song constantly. Put it on loads of compilation tapes. How could any band consign this piece of pop genius to such a hard to find release?
ReplyDeleteSo glad you could scratch that itch again! I was disappointed when "Out in the Wind" wasn't added to the first album reissue, and I wouldn't hold my breath for a Dels box set, so I'm glad I got a hold of it, years ago on the 12" (which I found used in a US record store) but later on a comp from a blog (forgot which, sorry to the blogger) which used the track as its title song.
ReplyDeleteStill in love with the lower case years, I just grabbed a live gig from the Rooftop in London 1985, which leads me to ask whether the eighties BBC sessions are floating around somewhere?
DeleteI can´t thank you enough for this!
ReplyDelete