"The Sound Of The Smiths" by THE SMITHS – Compilation Covering Thirty-Eight UK and European 7" and 12" Single A&B-side Rarities Alongside Seven LP Tracks released between May 1983 to November 1988 on Rough Trade Records (UK) and Sire Records (USA) - featuring Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce (November 2008 UK Rhino 2CD 45-Track Compilation with Johnny Marr Remasters) – A Review by Mark Barry...

 

 

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LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s

All In-Depth Reviews from the Discs Themselves

Over 1,650 e-Pages of Info

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...A Light That Never Goes Out..."

 

I'm likely to get swamped just doing the track list on this rather cool little compilation brute, but here's looking at the Charming Manchester Men - flowers on stage boyo's with their hands in gloves, thorns in their sides, girlfriends in comas, ritualistic headmasters and vicars in tutus - off we go then (whose miserable now Mozza). 

 

"The Sound Of The Smiths" 2CD 45-Track compilation offers you 7 album cuts and 38 seven and twelve-inch single sides that include some Promo-only goodies too (most are UK issues, but there are Italian and Dutch rarities as well). CD1 features the A's and CD2 the B's. Here are the heavenly/miserable details...

 

UK released 10 November 2008 - "The Sound Of The Smiths" by THE SMITHS on Rhino Records 2564-69371-2 (Barcode 825646937172) is a 2CD 45-Track compilation with Johnny Marr Remasters (Sire/Rhino R2 516016 - Barcode 081227988890 in the USA) that plays out as follows: 

 

CD1 (77:14 minutes):

1. Hand In Glove - May 1983, Rough Trade RT 131, A-side 45-single

2. This Charming Man - October 1983, Rough Trade RT 136, A-side 45-single

3. What Difference Does It Make? - Peel Sessions Version, originally released on the November 1984 compilation LP "Hatful Of Sorrow" on Rough Trade 76

4. Still Ill - Scheduled as the fourth UK 45-single, released February 1984 as a Promo-only 7" single on Rough Trade R 61 DJ, A-side ("You've Got Everything Now" is the B-side)

5. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now - May 1984, Rough Trade RT 156, A-side 45-single

6. William, It Was Really Nothing - August 1984, Rough Trade RT 166, A-side 45-single

7. How Soon Is Now? (12" Version, 6:45 minutes) - February 1985, Rough Trade RTT 176, A-side of 12" Single

8. Nowhere Fast - From the February 1985 UK LP "Meat Is Murder", Rough Trade 81

9. Shakespeare's Sister - March 1985, Rough Trade RT 181, A-side 45-single

10. Barbarism Begins At Home - 1985 Italian 7" Single Mix Version on Virgin/Rough Trade  45148, A-side (no UK single)

11. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore - July 1985, Rough Trade RT 186, A-side 45-single

12. The Headmaster Ritual - 1985 Dutch/Netherlands 7" Single on Megadisc MD 5290, A-side

13. The Boy With The Thorn In His Side - September 1985, Rough Trade RT 191, A-side 45

14. Bigmouth Strikes Again - May 1986, Rough Trade RT 192, A-side 45-single

15. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out - From the June 1986 UK LP "The Queen Is Dead" on Rough Trade 86

16. Panic - July 1986, Rough Trade RT 193, A-side 45-single

17. Ask - October 1986, Rough Trade RT 194, A-side 45-single 

18. You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby - Withdrawn UK 45-single on RT 195 but released on the February 1987 UK LP compilation "The World Won't Listen" on Rough Trade ROUGH 101

19. Shoplifters Of The World Unite - January 1987, Rough Trade RT 195, A-side 45-single

20. Sheila Take A Bow - April 1987, Rough Trade RT 196, A-side 45-single

21. Girlfriend In A Coma - August 1987, Rough Trade RT 197, A-side 45-single

22. I Started Something I Couldn't Finish - October 1987, Rough Trade RT 198, A-side 45

23. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me - December 1987, Rough Trade RT 200, A

CD2 (76:18 minutes):

1. Jeane - B-side of "This Charming Man" 45-single RT 136

2. Handsome Devil - B-side of "Hand In Glove" 45-single RT 131

3. This Charming Man (New York Vocal) - B-side of "This Charming Man" 12" Single on Rough Trade RTT 136 (NY)

4. Wonderful Woman - B-side of "This Charming Man" 12" Single on Rough Trade RTT 136

5. Back To The Old House - B-side of "What Difference Does It Make?" 45-single RT 146

6. These Things Take Time - B-side of "What A Difference Does It Make?" 12" Single on Rough Trade RTT 146

7. Girl Afraid - B-side of "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" 12" Single on Rough Trade RTT 156

8. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want - B-side of "William, It Was Really Nothing" 45-single RT 166

9. Stretch Out And Wait - Incorrectly listed as the B-side to the "Shakespeare's Sister" UK 12" Single, but is the Alternate Lyrics Version that turned up on the
February 1987 UK LP compilation "The World Won't Listen" on Rough Trade ROUGH 101

10. Oscillate Wildly - B-side to the "How Soon Is Now?" 12" Single on Rough Trade RTT 176 

11. Meat Is Murder (Live) - B-side of "This Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" 45-single on RT 186

12. Asleep - B-side of "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" 45-single on RT 191

13. Money Changes Everything - B-side of "Bigmouth Strikes Again" 45-single RT 192

14. The Queen Is Dead/Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty (Medley) - From the June 1986 UK LP "The Queen Is Dead" on Rough Trade 86

15. Vicar In A Tutu - B-side of "Panic" 45-single RT 193

16. Cemetry Gates - B-side of "Ask" 45-single RT 194

17. Half A Person - B-side of "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" 45-single RT 195

18. Sweet And Tender Hooligan - B-side of "Sheila Take A Bow" 12"-single RTT 196

19. Pretty Girls Make Graves (Troy Tate Demo) - B-side of "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" 45-single RT 198

20. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before - From the September 1987 UK LP "Strangeways, Here We Come" on Rough Trade ROUGH 106

21. What's The World? (Live) - B-side of "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" Cassette-Single RTT 198C

22. London (Live) - From the August 1988 Live LP "Rank" on Rough Trade ROUGH 126

The four-way foldout card Digipak sleeve offers photos of the boys in varying live and studio poses with a collage-photo beneath the CD trays of all those distinctive single sleeves with photos of actors, actresses, musicians and writers they liked - Terence Stamp, June Whitfield, Yootha Joyce, Pat Phoenix, Candy Darling, Alain Delon, Joe Dallesandro, Elvis Presley, Truman Capote and more. But the booklet is a strange thing of beauty and lacking - across its 28-pages you first get nearly 24-glossy pages of colour/black and white pictures with no text? Then there's 4-pages of detailed track-by-track discography info (few mistakes in there that are noted above), but there's no history, no liner notes, no new interviews. At least old champions of the band are mentioned - John Peel and his Producer John Walters - Walters being a gent I once had the privilege of being able to buy his fantastic record collection (took me three days to pack). Tom Sheehan took the cool photo for the front sleeve - and of course there's the JOHNNY MARR approved Remasters. To the tunes...   

 

Clever choices include replacing the more commonly available seven-inch single mix of "What Difference Does It Make?" with the Peel Sessions Version that showed up on the 1984 "Hatful Of Sorrow" compilation LP and that stunning guitar magic of "How Soon Is Now?" extended to 6:45 minutes for the 12" Single Version - a tune fans adore and Rock guys admire.  I must admit I went to CD2 thereafter to get access to those lesser-heard B-side gems like the whack guitar of "Jeane" (tired of walking these streets), the Francis Kervorkian remix of "This Charming Man" that extends that famous melody to 5:33 minutes and the surprisingly pretty "Back To The Old House" (too many bad memories). There can't be too many Smiths fans who wouldn't groove to the disused railway line stunner that is "These Things Take Times" - a B-side I think should have been on an album. 

 

Good old Morrissey makes a good man turn bad in the acoustic strum of "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" and again you're taken by the prettiness of the Eskimo running in its sexy veins "Stretch Out And Wait" (ly down puny body). Great audio on the piano of "Oscillate Wildly" - a twelve-inch single instrumental B-side you feel would have been a smash with some biting Morrissey words to give it Indie chart potential. Recorded live 18 March 1985 at The Oxford Apollo - the strained moo's of the live version of "Meat Is Murder" is an eerie one - Morrissey singing dead for no reason with a venom. Loving those faded in guitar treatments for "Money Changes Everything" - the flipside to "Bigmouth Strikes Again" - another John Porter produced instrumental groove that many Eighties bands would have killed for (you can hear how close it was to "How Soon Is Now?"). And on it goes...

 

For sure England's The Smiths were and still are an acquired taste (I know ho can't abide them or Morrissey or any of the politics surrounding the band) - but their Indie uniqueness, sound and cult endures. And on the strength of this chockers-twofer, you can absolutely so hear why...

"Eighties Albums (Four)" by PHIL COLLINS - Featuring "Face Value" (February 1981 UK Debut Solo Album after Genesis), "Hello, I Must Be Going!" (November 1982 Second), "No Jacket Required" (February 1985 Third), "...But Seriously" (November 1989 Fourth) on Virgin Records UK and Atlantic Records USA – Guests Include Ronnie Scott, Eric Clapton, Stephen Bishop, Shankar, Steve Winwood, David Crosby, Daryl Stuermer (later with Genesis), Earth, Wind & Fire Horns, The Phoenix Horns with Arif Mardin Arranged Strings and Backing Vocals from Helen Terry, Peter Gabriel and Sting – Four Albums of Eight Inside "Take A Look At Me Now...The Complete Remastered Studio Albums" (November 2017 UK Atlantic 8CD Mini Box Set of 2015 and 2016 Abbey Road Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s

All In-Depth Reviews from the Discs Themselves

Over 1,650 e-Pages of Info

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

"...Another Day In Paradise..."

 

In March 2023 - it's been over 42 years since I played some of these albums and I have to say - what with the 2015 and 2016 Abbey Road Remasters – the first four from the Eighties - "Face Value" (February 1981), "Hello, I Must Be Going!" (November 1982), "No Jacket Required" (February 1985) and "...But Seriously" (November 1989) stand up so well – especially his account-opener, the third and the fourth mega-seller "...But Seriously" that as I recall pushed over 3-millions sales in the UK alone.

 

All four along with another quad from his later career up to 2010 have been gathered together in this November 2017 not-much-frills but great-value-for-money gather-em-all-up 8-disc Box Set from the mighty trio of Atlantic, Warners and Rhino. Each features 2015 and 2016 Remasters done by the much respected Audio Engineers NICK DAVIS and MIKE SHOWELL at Abbey Road Studios and come in oversized gatefold card sleeves with updated facial artwork (no booklets or overall inlay either). Lot to get serious about - to the details of the first four...

 

UK released November 2017 - "Take A Look At Me Now...The Complete Remastered Studio Albums" by PHIL COLLINS on Atlantic/Warners/Rhino 0603497865192 (Barcode 0603497865192) is an 8CD Box Set offering 2015 Remasters of his Studio albums between 1981 and 2010. They play out as follows...

 

CD1 (47:55 minutes):

2015 Remaster by Nick Davis, Mastered Mike Showell at Abbey Road

1. In The Air Tonight [Side 1]

2. This Must Be Love

3. Behind The Lines

4. The Roof Is Leaking

5. Droned

6. Hand In Hand

7. I Missed Again [Side 2]

8. You Know What I Mean

9. Thunder And Lightning

10. I'm Not Moving

11. If Leaving Me Is Easy

12. Tomorrow Never Knows

13. Over The Rainbow

Tracks 1 to 13 are the debut solo album "Face Value" – released February 1981 in the UK on Virgin Records V 2185 and on Atlantic Records SD 16029. Produced by PHIL COLLINS and HUGH PADGHAM – it peaked at No.1 in the UK and No.7 in the USA

 

CD2 (45:56 minutes):

2015 Remaster by Nick Davis, Mastered Mike Showell at Abbey Road

1. I Don't Care Anymore [Side 1]

2. I Cannot Believe It's True

3. Like China

4. Do You Know, Do You Care?

5. You Can't Hurry Love

6. It Don't Matter To Me [Side 2]

7. Thru These Walls

8. Don't Let Him Steal Your Heart Away

9. The West Side

10. Why Can't It Wait 'Til Morning

Tracks 1 to 10 are his second solo album "Hello, I Must Be Going?" – released November 1982 in the UK on Virgin Records V 2252 and in the USA on Atlantic 7 80035-1. Produced by PHIL COLLINS and HUGH PADGHAM – it peaked at No.2 in the UK and No.8 in the USA (title is a Marx Brothers quote from the Movie Animal Crackers)

 

CD3 (50:52 minutes):

2016 Remaster by Nick Davis, Mastered Mike Showell at Abbey Road

1. Sussudio [Side 1]

2. Only You Know And I Know

3. Long Long Way To Go

4. I Don't Want To Know

5. One More Night

6. Don't Lose My Number [Side 2]

7. Who Said I Would

8. Doesn't Anybody Stay Together Anymore

9. Inside Out

10. Take Me Home

11. We Said Hello Goodbye

Tracks 1 to 11 are his third solo album "No Jacket Required" – released January 1985 in the UK on Virgin Records V 2345 (LP) and VCD 2345 (CD) and in the USA on Atlantic Records 7 81240-1 (LP) and 7 812400-2 (CD). Produced by PHIL COLLINS and HUGH PADGHAM – it peaked at No.1 in the UK and No.1 in the USA

 

CD4 (59:49 minutes):

2016 Remaster by Nick Davis, Mastered Mike Showell at Abbey Road

1. Hang In Long Enough [Side 1]

2. That's Just The Way It Is

3. Do You Remember?

4. Something Happened On The Way To Heaven

5. Colours

6. I Wish It Would Rain Down

7. Another Day In Paradise

8. Heat On The Street

9. All Of My Life

10. Saturday Night And Sunday Morning

11. Father To Son

12. Find A Way To My Heart

Tracks 1 to 12 are the CD album for "...But Seriously" – released November 1989 in the UK on Virgin CDV 2620 and Atlantic 82050-2 in the USA. Produced by PHIL COLLINS and HUGH PADGHAM – it peaked at No.1 in both the UK and USA. As was customary with releases in the middle to late Eighties because of the formats extended playing time capabilities over vinyl – the CD variant offered Two Bonus Tracks - "Heat On The Street" and "Saturday Night And Sunday Morning". The 10-track LP in this case on Virgin V 2620 also had a radically altered track line-up. To sequence the LP...

Side 1: Tracks 1, 2, 12, 5 and 11

Side 2: Tracks 7, 9, 4, 3 and 6

The lack of annotation robs you of useful info – especially when it comes to the brilliant musicians he regularly used as his studio band (Daryl Stuermer later with Genesis and Dominic Miller of Sting’s band on Guitars - Leland Sklar, Nathan East and Pino Palladino on Basses) alongside those tasty guest spots - Helen Terry of Pink Floyd’s The Great Gig In The Sky fame, Sting, Peter Gabriel, David Crosby, Stephen Bishop, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Shankar, Earth Wind & Fire and The Phoenix Horns, Arif Mardin String Arrangements – you get the picture.

 

For instance as Track 12 on the debut "Face Value" fades out, it segues into a Hidden Acapella cover version of the famous Wizard Of Oz song "Over The Rainbow" – it only lasts for 20-seconds or so but is not credited on the LP. The rear sleeve artwork here also stays faithful to the original LP by not printing the Bonus Track at the end of Side 2 so that it appears that his cover of The Beatles Revolver track "Tomorrow Never Knows" finishes the LP. For these CD Remasters and Reissues, Collins has also changed the artwork to a face shot of him in older age rather the 1981, 1982 etc versions.

 

For your info – friend and pal to Collins, Stephen Bishop provides backing vocals for "This Must Be Love" on the debut and the gorgeous/painful "Do You Remember?" on the "...But Seriously", Eric Clapton plays guitar on the terminally sad "If Leaving Me Is Easy" on the debut and "I Wish it Would Rain Down" on platter number four, while the legendary Producer and Arranger to so many stars Arif Mardin does gorgeous Strings work on "If Leaving Me Is Easy" and especially the stunning "You Know What I Mean" when it just Collins and the cellos carrying the loneliness and hurt. Other big contributors include Shankar who would of course feature on so many 80ts albums by Peter Gabriel, Saxophone Solo from Ronnie Scott on "I Missed Again" and the horns of Earth, Wind And Fire. And there are others too.

 

The Phenix Horns and serious session Saxophonists Don Myrick and Gary Barnacle are all over the big breakthrough LP "No Jacket Required" in 1985 that hit the number one spot on both sides of the pond. "Take Me Home" on Side 2 of that album features a bevvy of backing vocals – Helen Terry, Phil, Peter Gabriel and Sting.

 

A box set like this allows you to dip in too - surprises come in the shape of the sparse but emotive "The Roof Is Leaking" on the feeling-for-his-place debut – a tale of a man with a wife expecting, kids cold and another bad winter on the way. Jo Partridge of The Kiki Dee Band puts in superb slide guitar work that puts a menace in the lyrics of a desperate man looking for light up ahead. Daryl Stuermer of Sweetbottom (who contributes subtle banjo plucks) would later become guitarist with Genesis for long stretches. Collins then stretches out musically with the brilliant hum/instrumental "Droned" – both Shankar and Stuermer making their instrument contributions stand out. The Arif Mardin strings on the heartbreak of "One More Night" – the start of his obsession with Soul and R&B covers of the Sixties and Seventies when he did The Supremes hit "You Can't Hurry Love" for the second LP "Hello, I Must Be Going!"

 

The Children From The Churches of Los Angeles provide the nah-nahs throughout the brass-funky gem that is the Side 1 closer "Hand In Hand" on the debut – an instrumental that is still so damn contemporary (someone plays this on the radio and you're gonna want know who it is and then by surprised by the name outcome). You can so hear how Phil Collins has the knack for a hit hook – it might not get there without words – but what a great listen forty-plus years down the road - the Remaster kicking as those fantastic E, W & F horns rock your living room.

 

Too much success seems to put a hex on some artists – the public's viewpoint easily forgetting the body of work. Wildly successful for much of that decade, he seemed to slide for everything after – at least in the eyes of the public. But this set only amplifies what I loved about Phil Collins songs – they hit the feet and the heart. There are so many returned moments of pleasure here that remind me of his uncanny knack with a melody and touching lyrics - always the strongest arrow in his hugely successful six-decade career from 1969 to 2023. Top stuff my son...

"Purple Rain" by PRINCE and THE REVOLUTION – July 1984 Album on Warner Brothers (June 2017 UK Warner Brothers/NPG 3CD + 1DVD 'Ultimate Collector's Edition' Reissue with a Remastered Album, Unreleased Studio Material, B-sides and Single Mixes, a Live Concert and Bernie Grundman Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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This Review and 209 more are in my E-Book

Available on AMAZON 

LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s

All In-Depth Reviews from the Discs Themselves

Over 1,650 e-Pages of Info

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

 

"...Let's Pretend We're Married..." 

 

Having only just turned 26 years of age mere weeks before its worldwide release, Prince was already a five-album veteran for a major respected record label (Warner Brothers). But platter number six - "Purple Rain" from late June 1984 - sent him, his world and the rest of ours - into serious reeling mode.

 

As if the double-album "1999" from 1982 wasn't enough, "Purple Rain" arrived like a frenzied storm-trooper ready to prove a point to his mommy who didn't love him enough and left a copy of Hustler lying around the little darlings crib. From the opening Guitar/Synth Pop attack of "Let's Go Crazy" to the stunning and indeed majestic title track "Purple Rain" that ended Side 2 with a string arrangement that still leaves me jaw-struck - the whole album was a take-no-prisoners assault by both the artist and his tighter-than-tight backing group - The Revolution (credited for the first time as his chosen band on the LP artwork).

 

But the famous records transition to digital has been a tale of woe for far too many decades. Well now - at last - we get the 'Ultimate Collector's Edition' and 'Super Deluxe Edition' treatment in 2017 - reissues that like the album 'pour it on'. We're dealing with the baby version. Here are the dove details...

 

UK released 23 June 2017 - "Purple Rain" by PRINCE and THE REVOLUTION on Warner Records/NPG 9362-49132-0 (Barcode 093624913207) is a 3CD + 1DVD 'Ultimate Collector's Edition' Reissue with Rarities, Unreleased Material and Bernie Grundman Remasters. It plays out as follows:

 

CD1 "Original Album – 2015 Paisley Park Remaster" (43:48 minutes):

1. Let's Go Crazy

2. Take Me With U

3. The Beautiful Ones

4. Computer Blue

5. Darling Nikki

6. When Doves Cry [Side 2]

7. I Would Die 4 U

8. Baby I'm A Star

9. Purple Rain

Tracks 1 to 9 are his sixth studio album "Purple Rain" (first credited to Prince and The Revolution – released 27 July 1984 in the USA on Warner Brothers 25110-1 and in the UK on Warner Brothers 925 110-1. Produced by PRINCE – it peaked at No. 1 in the USA and No. 7 in the UK.

 

CD2 "From The Vault and Previously Unreleased" (76:33 minutes):

1. The Dance Electric (11:29 minutes)

2. Love And Sex (5:00 minutes)

3. Computer Blue ("Hallways Speech" Version) (12:18 minutes)

4. Electric Intercourse (Studio Version) (4:57 minutes)

5. Our Destiny/Roadhouse Garden (6:25 minutes)

6. Possessed (7:56 minutes)

7. Wonderful Ass

8. Velvet Kitty Cat

9. Katrina's Paper Dolls

10. We Can F**k

11. Father's Song

 

CD3 "Single Edits & B-Sides" Bernie Grundman Remasters (78:05 minutes):

1. When Doves Cry (7" Single Edit) – A-side, May 1984 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 29286

2. 17 Days (Edit) – B-side of "When Doves Cry", May 1984 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 29286

3. Let's Go Crazy (7" Single Edit) – A-side, July 1984 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 29216

4. Let's Go Crazy (Special Dance Mix) – August 1984 US 12" Single, A-side of Warner Brothers 20246

5. Erotic City (Edit) – B-side of "Let's Go Crazy", July 1984 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 29216

6. Erotic City ("Make Love Not War Erotic City Come Alive") – B-side of "Let's Go Crazy", August 1984 US 12" Single Extended Version, Warner Brothers 20246

7. Purple Rain (7" Edit) – A-side, September 1984 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 29174

8. God – B-side of "Purple Rain", September 1984 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 29174

9. God (Love Theme From Purple Rain) – B-side of UK 12" Single for "Purple Rain", September 1984 on Warner Brothers W 9174 T

10. Another Lonely Christmas (Edit) – B-side of "I Would Die 4 U", November 1984 US 45-single on Warner Brothers 20291

11. Another Lonely Christmas (Extended Version) – A-side, December 1984 US 45-single, Warner Brothers 20291

12. I Would Die 4 U (7" Single Edit) – A-side, November 1984 US 45-single on Warner Brothers 29121

13. I Would Die 4 U (Extended Version) – A-side, December 1984 US 45-single on Warner Brothers 20291

14. Baby I'm A Star (Edit) – B-side to "Take Me With U", January 1985 US 45-single on Warner Brothers 29079

15. Take Me With U (7" Single Edit) – A-side, January 1985 US 45-single on Warner Brothers 29079

 

DVD – Prince And The Revolution Live at the Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY, 30 March 1985

1. Let's Go Crazy

2. Delirious

3. 1999

4. Little Red Corvette

5. Take Me With U

6. Do Me, Baby

7. Irresistible Bitch

8. Possessed

9. How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore

10. Let's Pretend We're Married

11. International Lover

12. God

13. Computer Blue

14. Darling Nikki

15. The Beautiful One

16. When Doves Cry

17. I Would Die 4 U

18. Baby I'm A Star

19. Purple Rain

 

On first glance the silver-foil-look multi-foldout-panel cardpack certainly looks the part - a Remaster of the original album overseen by prince at his Paisley Park studios - a chockers CD2 with unheard rarities which are actually worth hearing - a third CD of myriad 7" and 12" single versions (promos included) and the icing on the cake - a concert DVD that amply shows why he and his band (on form) were one of the greatest live draws in the world. But you quickly begin to realize that the 36-page booklet (pretty as it is) is a truncated variant of the much larger version in the 'Super Deluxe' Box set and only comments on the album - then nada. No debate or enlightenment for fans on any of the rest of it.

 

Audio Engineer SUSAN ROGERS opens the text with reminiscences of the album's making and Prince's impact not just on the R&B and Soul scene, but what crossover appeal "Purple Rain" gave Prince with the Rock Crowd who after "1999" had woken up to his brilliance. It was his fusion of Hendrix going wild on Guitar, Sly Stone getting Funky in the keyboard department and James Brown's band The JB's meets Motown's locked-in rhythm section The Funk Brothers letting rip with the back beat. Pretty much irresistible stuff and yet Prince felt new - like you just weren't sure he would go next.

 

There's a slew of suitably outrageous outtake photos but perhaps best of all is a song-by-song analysis by the musicians of The Revolution - Singer and Keyboardist Lisa Coleman, Guitarist and Vocalist Wendy Melvoin, Drummer Bobby Z, Bassist and Vocalist Brown Mark and Keyboardist and Vocalist Dr. Fink - all filling out the section called 'Fearlessly Breathe In The...Purple Rain - The Revolution Track-By-Track'. Immediately you're hit by their affection - the sense of good luck too that they were part of such an extraordinary ride. All tasty - but in the end it was always going to be about the Prince Remaster of the Album (CD1) and BERNIE GRUNDMAN handling the rest. While obvious big hitters like "When Doves Cry", "Purple Rain" and "Let's Go Crazy" will get the immediate attention - it's those album gems like the ballad "The Beautiful Ones" and the Funk-a-thon "Baby I'm A Star" that fans will love - suddenly lifted up out of the mire - instruments and moments swirling around your speakers. I love it.

 

But little (apart from his reputation) will prepare you for the gems and excesses on CD2 - a haul of unreleased - some of which Funk-U-Up for eleven and twelve minutes - the lady vocals start in "Our Destiny" that then segues into Prince taking over for "Roadhouse Garden" only to end the five-minute two-parter with the rip-roaring-est geetar solo you've ever heard - the kind of thing that Hendrix might note with a smirk in the great blue yonder. He does the same on the massively extended "Computer Blue" version - in fact its fading out and he's still punishing that guitar for even existing. Of the outtakes "Velvet Kitty Cat" and "Father's Song" impress and you can't help thinking that a five-minute edit of the Funk workout that is eleven-minute "The Dance Electric" could easily have made the album itself.

 

Directed by Paul Becher with the Audio also remastered by Bernie Grundman - the video concert shows his smarts by mixing in rarity material like "Do Me, Baby", "Possessed" and "Irresistible Bitch" into his live set thereby keeping uber-fans happy and the casual audience on its toes. The final three of "I Would Die 4 U", "Baby I'm A Star" and the epic "Purple Rain" show that fine line he tread - egotist, sexpot and genius too - and man did he know it.

 

Despite the annoyance of having a chunky booklet that doesn't actually tell you about the contents of its three CDs and 1DVD - this is a fabulous reissue and of course, my bank manager has booked cardiac-relief sessions as I now pursue the 'Super Deluxe Edition' because more of the same isn't just a good idea, but on the evidence presented here, damn near essential...