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On April 1^st we will see the release of an extended edition of the hugely successful debut album, Wonderful Life by Black (alias for British singer-songwriter Colin Vearncombe). Although Black released his first record in 1981 it wasn’t until 1987 and the release of top 10 single Sweetest Smile that he finally made his mark in the UK charts, what followed was a re-release of his classic melancholy worldwide smash hit Wonderful Life which really made people sit up and take notice. The album of the same name was released shortly after garnering similar success as well as earning commercial and critical acclaim, selling over 1.5 million copies in the process.

A special edition of this musical masterpiece is being re-released as a 2CD deluxe edition, it will comprise of the full original album plus a second CD of 14 bonus tracks, including the original Ugly Man version of the Wonderful Life single plus a selection of B-sides and four songs from a 1986 Janice Long session. The album’s liner notes come complete with a specially commissioned interview with Colin.

Wonderful Life is an exceptional collection of soulful/jazz pop songs infused with the sound of synths and electric guitar. This is an album that, although may sound dated to some, is a pure work of art, a diverse lyrical and musical rollercoaster all accompanied with the instantly identifiable vocals of Vearncombe. A selection of relaxed songs like the synth driven Paradise and I Just Grew Tired fused together with some upbeat tempo tracks such as the lively Just Making Memories, the guitar led rock number Everything’s Coming Up Roses and Sometimes For The Asking. Not forgetting the magnificent brooding ballads Sweetest Smile and Everything80s favourite Wonderful Life with a well-crafted musical and vocal arrangement that captures you from that opening riff.

It’s not surprising that this intellectual album spawned two Top 10 hits, as well as countless cover versions of the title track which still features in many adverts, TV programs and films. This classic album is a timeless body of work, one that doesn’t stay within one musical direction but gives you a selection of reflective instrumentals, superb vocals, strong rhythm’s, 80s synth pop beats as well as a distinguishable sound and poignant lyrics that are synonymous with Black.

Overall this edition will without a doubt sharpen the desire with loyal fans as well as present itself well to a new generation. The 2^nd CD is full of captivating material and gives us some B-Sides, alternative mixes, extended versions, from the superb pan pipe sounds of Dagger, to the fantastic pop rock sounds of Life Calls as well as the original recording of Wonderful Life.

Colin Vearncombe may not have had the commercial success that this album once brought but he continues to record as well as perform today and after his passion for songwriting was rejuvenated in 1998 has since gone on to release a number of acclaimed albums. As a phenomenal songwriter and musician he will also undertake a 9-date, acoustic tour of the UK this April starting in Eastney on the 7th.

To find out more and to see if Black will be coming to a town near you then check out his website www.colinvearncombe.com

To Pre-Order a copy of the deluxe edition of Wonderful Life click here.

Review by Carli Davies

www.everything80s.co.uk 

Tracklisting

Disc One:

1.       Wonderful Life

2.       Everything Is Coming Up Roses

3.       Sometimes For The Asking

4.       Finder

5.       Paradise

6.       I’m Not Afraid

7.       I Just Grew Tired

8.       Blue

9.       Just Making Memories

10.   Sweetest Smile

11.   Ravel in the Rain

12.   Leave Yourself Alone

13.   Sixteens

14.   It’s Not You Lady Jane

15.   Hardly Star-Crossed Lovers

Disc Two:

1.       Wonderful Life (Ugly Man 12 Inch From Vinyl)

2.       Birthday Night (Ugly Man 7 Inch From Vinyl)

3.       Dagger Reel (7 Inch B)

4.       Sometimes For The Asking (New Recording B Side)

5.       Sometimes For The Asking (Echo Bass & Sax)

6.       Everything’s Coming Up Roses (The Fairly Mental Mix)

7.       Have It Your Own Way (B-Side)

8.       My Lover (B-Side)

9.       Life Calls (7 Inch B-Side)

10.   Had Enough (12 Inch B-Side)

11.   All We Need Is The Money (12 Inch B-Side)                                                                                                                

After signing to MCA in 1986 and their non-charting first single in 1988 Transvision Vamp finally arrived making a stamp on the UK charts with their single, I Want Your Love hitting the number 5 spot, their sound not quite bubble-gum pop and not quite hard rock but resting somewhere in between with a nice bit of punk infusion thrown in. A flamboyant mix of synths, drums and guitars, backed up by the songwriting of Nick Sayer and musical muscle of Dave Parsons and Tex Axile all topped off with the incredible voice of lead singer Wendy James who was quite frankly a bit of sexy, edgy pop dynamite.

I was a huge fan of this fun; rebellious group so to hear that on the 25^th March we will see the re-release of their first two highly successful albums Pop Art and Velveteen was literally music to my ears. The albums are being released as 2-CD sets with each featuring a bonus disc full of B-sides and rarities, guaranteed to produce effervescent flashbacks to when Transvision Vamp were at the forefront, with their abounding enthusiasm, desire and angst. A definite must for any fan of this underrated band who after massive chart success in the UK and abroad disbanded in 1992.

POP ART

Debut album Pop Art was released in 1988 landing at No 4 in the UK album charts as well as gaining huge support abroad including Australia. This debut turns 25 years old this year and is just as fresh as it was back in the day, with top tracks such as the loud in your face guitar driven I Want Your Love all wrapped up with a nice punk bow, the pop anthem with attitude Tell That Girl to Shut Up as well as the energetic Revolution Baby all the way to the more refined melodic ballad Sister Moon ending the album with the sensually charged Sex Kick. This album is also an expanded edition featuring 4 tracks from the BBC’s Andy Kershaw Sessions.

The bonus disc gives us 18 tracks featuring single remixes and appealing B-Sides kicking off in the form of the toe tapping Vid Kid Vamp following up with some other catchy tunes such as the awe-inspiring Honey Honey showing off James sweet raw vocals as well as the heartfelt ballad Walk On By. A great accompaniment to an already fabulous album.

POP ART TRACKLISITNG

DISC ONE

1.    Trash City

2.    I Want Your Love

3.    Sister Moon

4.    Psychosonic Cindy

5.    Revolution Baby

6.    Tell That Girl To Shut Up

7.    Wild Star

8.    Hanging Out With Halo Jones

9.    Andy Warhol's Dead

10.  Sex Kick

11.  Trash City (Andy Kershaw BBC Session)

12.  Andy Warhol's Dead (Andy Kershaw BBC Session)

13.  Sweet Thing (Andy Kershaw BBC Session)

14.  Sex Kick (Andy Kershaw BBC Session)

DISC TWO

1.    Vid Kid Vamp (B-Side Revolution Baby)

2.    Revolution Baby (Electra-Glide Mix)

3.    No It U Lover (B-Side Revolution Baby)

4.    God Save The Royalties (B-Side Tell That Girl)

5.    Tell That Girl To Shut Up (Extended Mix)

6.    Tell That Girl To Shut Up (Knuckle Duster Mix)

7.    Sweet Thing (B-Side I Don’t Want Your Money)

8.    Evolution Evie (Acoustic Version) (B-Side I Don’t Want Your Money)

9.    I Want Your Love (I Don't Want Your Money Mix)

10.  Evolution Evie (Electric Version) (B-Side I Don’t Want Your Money)

11.  Honey Honey (B-Side Revolution Baby)

12.  Long Lonely Weekend (B-Side Revolution Baby)

13.  Vid Kid Vamp (Remix) (B-Side Revolution Baby)

14.  Sister Moon (7" Version)

15.  Oh Yeah (B-Side Sister Moon)

16.  Walk On By (B-Side Sister Moon)

17.  Sex Kick (Ciao Portobello) (B-Side Sister Moon)

18.  Sister Moon (Groove On) (B-Side Sister Moon)

VELVETEEN

Their second album Velveteen followed in 1989 and gave us the incredible stomping track Baby, I Don’t Care, their most successful single and one that packed a vocal, melodic and instrumental punch. Velveteen not only hit the UK top spot but hit No 2 in Australia, an album full of vitality, riffs to rock your socks off, plenty of attitude as well as bucket loads of sex appeal and is definitely one of my favourites. This record is varied in terms of tracks from the guitar driven catchy single The Only One, to the synthpop led Down On You as well as the up tempo Landslide of Love to the slow harmonious ballad Song to the Stars, however apart from the downright awesome Baby I Don’t Care the other top song on this album has to be the multifaceted dramatic title track Velveteen, a song that gives us guitar, strings, melody, great lyrics and manages to hold your attention for the full 9.51 minutes, you can only listen in awe as it travels through various shifts from rock to pop to ballad and back again, a track that is just genius in its production.

Disc 2 features lots of B Sides, Remixes, Demos and Extended Editions as well as Live versions of Down On You and Last Time and is another great album in itself, a collection that has been put together well.

VELVETEEN TRACKLISTING

DISC ONE

1.    Baby I Don't Care

2.    The Only One

3.    Landslide Of Love

4.    Falling For A Goldmine

5.    Down On You

6.    Song To The Stars

7.    Kiss Their Sons

8.    Born To Be Sold

9.    Pay The Ghosts

10.  Bad Valentine

11.  Velveteen

DISC TWO

1.    Baby I Don't Care (Abigail's Party Mix)

2.    Sex Kick (Demo Version)

3.    Time For Change (B-Side Baby I Don’t Care)

4.    Strings Of My Heart (B-Side Baby I Don’t Care)

5.    Saturn 5 (Demo Version) (B-Side Baby I Don’t Care)

6.    The Mystery Song (B-Side The Only One)

7.    Love Me (B-Side The Only One)

8.    The Only One (Extended Mix)

9.    Landslide Of Love (Extended Mix)

10.  W11 Blues (B-Side Landslide of Love)

11.  Hardtime (B-Side Landslide of Love)

12.  He's The Only One For Me (B-Side Landslide of Love)

13.  Kiss Me (B-Side Born To Be Sold)

14.  Down On You (Live Version) (B-Side Born To Be Sold)

15.  Last Time (Live Version) (B-Side Born To Be Sold)

Overall both albums give us an exceptional collection of pop/rock songs, the B-Sides and remixes will stand out to fans and are yet another two great albums to come out of the 80s decade.  These reissues will no doubt sharpen the desire with loyal fans as well as present the band well to a new generation.

We have a copy of each album to give away in our March Competition! To be in with a chance of winning please enter here: Everything80s

To Pre Order Pop Art Click Here

To Pre Order Velveteen Click Here

Review Written by Carli Davies

www.everything80s.co.uk 

In 2012 we were given deluxe editions of Dio’s first 3 albums and now on 4^th March 2013 their fourth album Dream Evil, which was originally released on July 21, 1987, is getting the preferential treatment. This album has to be one of Dio’s finest; a classic example of 80’s metal at its best, an underrated gem that deserves vast recognition. Without a doubt Ronnie James Dio was a metal hero, a vocalist who also lent his talents to bands such as rock giants Rainbow as well as Black Sabbath and it’s fair to say that when Ronnie succumbed to stomach cancer in May 2010, the world of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal lost one of its most gifted and passionate ambassadors.

This album features former Rough Cutt guitarist Craig Goldy and keyboard player Claude Schnell, additions who certainly make their mark, just listen to Goldy’s guitar solo at the end of the phenomenal ballad All The Fools Sailed Away and his outstanding guitar riff at the beginning of Overlove, as well as some serious shredding during the up-tempo classic Naked In The Rain and the boisterous opening track Night People.

This deluxe edition thankfully doesn't disappoint in terms of sound quality with it being quite apparent that the audio has been enhanced as much as possible to provide a clarity that sometimes gets lost in re-masters. This new 2-CD deluxe edition comes with a bonus disc contains a selection of tracks from the bands triumphant gig at Monsters of Rock in 1987 as well as the single edition of I Could Have Been A Dreamer and Hide in the Rainbow. An expanded booklet with notes by Malcolm Dome endorsed by Ronnie’s widow Wendy makes this the next in line of ultimate Dio reissues. Although the live material is already available on the double-disc set At Donington, UK: Live 1983 & 1987 (2010) if you don’t have already have that album then this Dream Evil deluxe edition is a must even if some of the live bonus tracks aren't played in their entirety.

Overall Dream Evil is a brilliant genre defining album; a mix of passionate and heavy tracks, along with superb musicianship as well as the incredible vocal range and roar of Ronnie. An album that gives you great riffs, fierce melodies, edgy basslines and enables you to take an impressive trip down memory lane.

Order yours from AMAZON .

Tracklisting:

DISC ONE

Night People
Dream Evil
Sunset Superman
All The Fools Sailed Away
Naked In The Rain
Overlove
I Could Have Been A Dreamer  
Faces In A Window
When A Woman Cries

DISC TWO

Hide In The Rainbow (Dio EP)
I Could Have Been A Dreamer (Single Edit)
Dream Evil (Donnington - 22/08/87)
Neon Nights
Naked In The Rain
Rock N Roll Children
Long Live Rock N Roll
The Last In Line
Holy Diver
Heaven And Hell
Man On The Silver Mountain
All The Fools Sailed Away  
The Last In Line (Reprise)
Rainbow In The Dark
 

After his group The Teardrop Explodes disbanded and his initial two solo albums Cope released his first album for Island Records and his most commercially successful in 1987: Saint Julian, after an image overhaul where he cut his hair and embraced the Rock God persona. Cope put together a new backing group for this album, lead guitarist Donald Ross Skinner, drummer Chris Whitten and James Eller with himself on vocals, rhythm guitar as well as playing the keyboards under the alias of Double DeHarrison. Now fast forward 26 years and the album is being re-released as a 2 disc deluxe version which contains all B-side and remixes which have been sequenced by Julian himself, including notes by Ian Harrison as well as updated art. This album songs abandoned the collapsing psychedelic styles of his previous endeavour Fried in favour of a crisp, punchier and more structured sound, drawing partially on Cope’s professed love for Detroit heavy rock acts such as early Alice Cooper. With early sessions being supervised by Ramones producer Ed Stasium and delivering tracks World Shut Your Mouth, Pulsar and Spacehopper you know you are in for a great time.

Disc 1: Saint Julian kicks off with the pop rock sounds of Trampoline with its catchy chorus engaging your ears whilst  taking us to the second track, a favourite of Everything80s, the toe tapping Shot Down with its unmistakable melody and great musical arrangement. There is a great variety of songs on this album from the post punk sounding Pulsar to the New Wave feel of Eve's Volcano, the  funky tones of the guitar driven Planet Ride including the head banging riffs of Spacehopper (a track that dated back to late 1970s writing sessions with Ian McCulloch) to the final album track the lengthy 8 minute Crack In The Clouds, a dramatic theatrical instalment with an otherworldly feel which ends the album on a high. Overall an album full of well composed memorable songs which also includes Cope’s biggest solo hit, the fantastic up-tempo pop track that still packs a lyrical and melodic punch today World Shut Your Mouth which reached No.19 in the UK in 1986, becoming his only Top 20 solo hit. Several songs on Saint Julian originated from much earlier than the others including Screaming Secrets which had been a Teardrop Explodes song which never made it to album.

Disc 2 is the gem that features the B-sides and ambitious remixes especially of singles World Shut Your Mouth, Trampoline and Eve’s Volcano, with the extension of the tracks adding just enough to keep the Cope fan satisfied, as well as the captivating downhearted sounds of Mock Turtle and the addictive rock sound of opening song I’ve Got Levitation.

Overall a great edition and although Cope has stated that it is not one of his favourite albums I dare say there is a reason why it was his most successful, with great musical production, raw energy, inspiring lyrics and moving  melodies there is plenty to get your teeth into. A must for the Julian Cope fan.

Saint Julian The Deluxe Edition will be available from the 4th February 2013, you can Pre Order your copy here.

Saint Julian Deluxe Edition

Tracklisting: Disc 1

01. Trampoline

02. Shot Down

03. Eve’s Volcano

04. Spacehopper

05. Planet Ride

06. World Shut Your Mouth

07. Saint Julian

08. Pulsar

09. Screaming Secrets

10. A Crack in the Clouds

Tracklisting: Disc 2

01. I’ve Got Levitation

02. Umpteenth Unnatural Blues

03. Disaster

04. Warwick the Kingmaker

05. Non-Alignment Pact

06. Mock Turtle

07. Almost Beautiful Child (I & II)

08. Transporting

09. Trampoline Warne Out Mix

10. World Shut Your Mouth Trouble Funk Mix

11. Pulsar Nx Live

12. Shot Down Live

13. Eve’s Volcano (Covered in Sin)/Vulcano Lungo 12″ Remix

14. Spacehopper – Annexe 

There have been some classic albums re-released this year by Universal and they show no signs of slowing down with their reissue of The Jam’s utterly brilliant UK number one record The Gift. Originally released in March 1982 and to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the mod revival bands sixth and final album before their untimely split a super-deluxe box set as well as a two-CD Deluxe Edition version was released on 19^th November 2012.  

The Jam arrived on the music scene in 1977 and quickly became at the forefront of the mod revival movement, known for their melodic pop songs, image as well as their distinctive English roots and until their split in 1982 drew upon a variety of stylistic influences including 1960s beat music, soul, rhythm and blues, psychedelic rock, as well as 1970s punk and new wave. The Gift marked the departure from the classic Jam sound to a more Northern Soul-influenced style as well as politically inspired lyrics that give you a glimpse of its time and what life like was like in Britain during the early 80s, not only do you sense the state of the society in which they lived but where music was going. An album with plenty of funk, peppered with jazz influences and a different style to previous Jam music it was not only an album that deserved its top spot but one that led to the split and the forming of The Style Council by Paul Weller. From the great lyrical masterpieces such as Just Who Is The 5 O’clock Hero?, the timeless chart hit, Town Called Malice, with its motown style bassline, a gritty  tale telling us of the reality of dealing with the hardships of life in a small, downtrodden English town, to the post punk sound of Happy Together as well as Precious with its great Sax solo and Everything 80s favourite Carnation a song that is just genius, this is an album that just doesn’t get old with time. A powerful album that Weller describes as “I was very proud of it – I thought it was another advance on what we’d done before”, maybe he was ensuring that their last album should also be their finest. 

The phenomenal 4 disc box set includes 3 CDs: A re-mastered version of the original album along with Singles & B-Sides, disc two is full of demos and alternate tracks whereas disc 3 is a complete previously unreleased live recording of the band’s final tour at Wembley on Dec 3^rd 1982 containing 23 top tunes, the fourth disc is a DVD compilation featuring live performances along with TV promo footage as well as their Top of The Pops appearance from February 18th 1982 where they performed their top hit Town Called Malice and had the honour of performing its double A-side, Precious at the same time, the only other band to be bestowed with this honour being the Beatles! Not only do you get these incredible discs but also a hardback 72-page, full colour book, gathering memorabilia from the era and the fan’s, magazine cuttings, reviews, photos,  new interviews with Paul Weller and producer Peter Wilson, as well as a set of postcard prints, and a replica 1982 tour programme. Phewf there is definitely plenty to whet the fans appetite!  

Overall whether you are going for the mega box set or just the deluxe 2 disc version you are in for a treat. A great re-issue of a classic album with enough extras and unreleased material to not only please long term fans but also a new generation.

You can get yours over at Amazon:

2 CD Deluxe Version

Super Deluxe Edition

Or Visit the : Universal Music Box Set Store 

The Jam – The Gift: 30 ^th anniversary ( ‘The Gift and beyond…’)

‘Gift-box’ ‘super-deluxe’ Edition Contents:

• Four discs, in individual wallets: Disc 1 – original album re-mastered, Disc 2 – bonus tracks, Disc 3 – Live at Wembley December 1982, Disc 4 – DVD compilation
• Outer box in original striped bag style cover – ‘The Jam – A Gift’!
• Hardback 72-page, full-colour book – including period and fan’s memorabilia, magazine cuttings (NME etc.), reviews, photos, new interviews (with Paul Weller and producer Peter Wilson)  
• Foreword by Paul Weller and new essay by John Harris
• Set of postcard prints
• Replica 1982  tour programme
•  

Also available as:

• 2-disc deluxe digi-pak format
• Deluxe digital version
• Limited Edition 10” Vinyl of Danish TV Concert recorded 23/4/82

Super-deluxe Box Set Tracklisting:

Disc One - Original album / Singles & B-Sides

1. Happy Together

2. Ghosts

3. Precious

4. Just Who Is The 5 O’clock Hero

5. “Trans-Global Express”

6. Running On The Spot

7. Circus

8. The Planner’s Dream Goes Wrong

9. Carnation

10. Town Called Malice

11. The Gift

12. Precious (12”)

13. The Great Depression

14. The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had To Swallow)

15. Pity Poor Alfie / Fever

16. Pity Poor Alfie (swing version)

17. Beat Surrender

18. Shopping

19. Move On Up

20. Stoned Out Of My Mind

21. War

Disc Two – Demos & Alternate Tracks

1.  Skirt (demo) #

2.  Get Yourself Together (demo) Originally released on ‘Extras’

3.  Ghosts (instrumental demo) #

4.  Just Who Is The 5 O’clock Hero (demo) #

5.  Running On The Spot (demo) #

6.  The Planner’s Dream Goes Wrong (demo) #

7.  Carnation (instrumental demo) #

8.   Precious (demo)  Originally released on ‘Direction, Reaction, Creation’

9.   The Bitterest Pill (demo) #

10.  Alfie (demo ‘2’) #

11.  We’ve Only Started (‘old version’) #

12.  Only Started (instrumental demo) #

13.  Shopping (AKA ‘Paul’s demo’) #

14.  Beat Surrender (demo) #

15.  Solid Bond In Your Heart (demo) #          

# Previously unreleased

Disc Three - Live at Wembley (Dec. 3rd 1982)

1. Start!

2. It’s Too Bad

3. Beat Surrender

4. Away From The Numbers

5. Ghosts

6. In The Crowd

7. Boy About Town

8. So Sad About Us

9. All Mod Cons

10. To Be Someone

11. Smithers-Jones

12. That’s Entertainment

13. The Great Depression

14. Precious

15. Move On Up

16. Circus

17. Down In The Tube Station At Midnight

18. David Watts

19. Mr Clean

20. Town Called Malice

21. But I’m Different Now

22. “Trans-Global Express”

23. In The City

Disc 4 – DVD

Part 1 – Trans-Global Unity Express

Live video from Birmingham March 1982

Part 2 – The promo videos

1. Town Called Malice

2. Precious

3. The Bitterest Pill

Part 3 - Danish TV special

The Jam play songs from the Gift album. Recorded live in Studio 3, TV-Byen, Copenhagen April 19 1982, broadcast April 23 1982.

1.    Running On The Spot

2.    Circus

3.    Happy Together

4    Ghosts

5.    In The Crowd

6.    Town Called Malice

7.    Pity Poor Alfie / Fever

8.    Precious

9.    Just Who Is The 5 O’clock Hero

10.  The Gift

11.  Move On Up

12.  Trans-Global Express

Part 4 – Top Of The Pops

Recorded February 18 1982

1. Precious

2. Town Called Malice