THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2023 EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.
 Echo & The Bunnymen's classic 1997 John Peel session available for the first time on vinyl, featuring 2 songs from 1997's 'Evergreen' plus the Bunnymen classics "Villiers Terrace" and "Altamont". Black vinyl, no download code. 

TRACK LISTING

A1. Don't Let It Get You Down
A2. Villiers Terrace
B1. Altamont
B2. Rescue

Originally released in 1997, Evergreen marked a critical and commercial renaissance for the band after more than half a decade’s hiatus; an album that rightfully returned them to the Top 10 that sported three UK hits including the seminal ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’.

When Echo & The Bunnymen imploded at the end of the 1980s, the decade lost one of its greatest bands in the messiest of circumstances. Until then, theirs had been a magical rise: since 1979 they’d outgrown the Liverpool punk scene, outshone their alternative pop rivals of the mid-80s, and looked set to step into the big league. But by the end of the decade the magic that had kept them together was slowly unthreading. The die was cast in 1988 when Ian McCulloch quit after a tour of Japan. It should have marked the end for the band, but the remaining Bunnymen decided to persevere and seek a replacement. Unthinkable tragedy struck in 1989 when drummer Pete de Freitas was killed in a motorbike accident.

The finality – as it then seemed – of the Bunnymen was all the worse for the nagging sense that they hadn’t so much faded away as burned out before their time.

After a half-decade wilderness years of side projects and solo outings, in January 1997 Will Sergeant, Les Pattinson and Ian McCulloch decided to come back together in a recording studio for the first time in ten years. The reborn Bunnymen entered Doghouse studios in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, as fate would have it at the same time as Oasis, then gliding on a post-Knebworth high as the biggest band in Britain. In a pivotal generational passing of the baton, the two legends of their eras merged on the killer ace nestling up McCulloch’s sleeve, ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’, featuring a 24-year-old Liam Gallagher on backing “yeah, yeah, yeah!”s and tambourine shakes.

Any doubts among fans that the Bunnymen might have been making a terrible mistake by regrouping were obliterated by the song’s first chorus, crashing the UK Top Ten at number 8 in June 1997, the first taster of the album, the highest new entry in the band’s career and equalling their best ever chart position for ‘The Cutter’.

The self-produced sessions at Doghouse were further embellished with strings, horns and vocal arrangements at the more imperious sounding Abbey Road and the resultant album achieved the almost impossible; commercial, conceptual and critical acclaim on a par with their past achievements. NME called it “impossibly good. The first comeback in history not to be dogged by a nauseous sense of distress, the first one to actually sound important”, the Melody Maker declared “the new songs are as good as the old songs, and probably better than almost anything you’ll hear this year”.

Former manager (and later KLF pop maverick Bill Drummond) spoke of their return at the time: “Within the soul of Echo & The Bunnymen there was a pure aspiration that transcended all those would-be dragged up memories. It’s as if The Bunnymen were going for some ultimate and indefinable glory.”

Ten years since they last graced the Top Ten Album Chart, Evergreen returned them there in July 1997. The Bunnymen had proved themselves not only deserving of a second wind but effortlessly welcomed by the musical landscape of the late-90s. Arriving in the season of Oasis’s Be Here Now and The Verve’s Urban Hymns, Evergreen was both of and beyond its time.

At the time, McCulloch proudly spoke of the album as the best he’d believed they’d ever made. Through the sepia lens of hindsight, today he understates its value as containing “at least three great songs, which is three more than most bands have in their entire catalogue.” By name, the ballads ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’, ‘Forgiven’ and ‘Just A Touch Away’. Beyond McCulloch’s holy trinity, Evergreen was just as notable for its snake-charming title track and the similarly serpentine ‘Empire State Halo’, both, like the best Bunnymen songs of yore, reaching our ears somewhere from Norris Green via Marrakesh. Elsewhere the Mersey shuffle of singles ‘Don’t Let it Get You Down’ and ‘I Want To Be There (When You Come)’ sees the brighter side of the band, as open and as relevant as their contemporaries past and present.

“Someone asked me the other day why I reunited the Bunnymen,” McCulloch commented that summer. “Well, I haven’t. I’ve re-ignited the Bunnymen. Having said that, they never stopped glowing somewhere in my heart.”

That glow made music, Evergreen still blinds.

TRACK LISTING

EVERGREEN (25 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION) LP
A1 Don’t Let It Get You Down
A2 In My Time
A3 I Want To Be There (When You Come)
A4 Evergreen
A5 I’ll Fly Tonight
A6 Nothing Lasts Forever 3:55
B1 Baseball Bill
B2 Altamont
B3 Just A Touch Away
B4 Empire State Halo
B5 Too Young To Kneel
B6 Forgiven

EVERGREEN (25 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION 2 X CD)
CD1
01 Don’t Let It Get You Down
02 In My Time
03 I Want To Be There (When You Come)
04 Evergreen
05 I’ll Fly Tonight
06 Nothing Lasts Forever
07 Baseball Bill
08 Altamont
09 Just A Touch Away
10 Empire State Halo
11 Too Young To Kneel
12 Forgiven
13 Watchtower
14 Polly
15 Hurracaine
16 Colour Me In
17 Antelope
18 Jonny
CD2
01 I Want To Be There (When You Come)
(Live At The Improv Theatre, 1999)
02 Rescue (Live At The Improv Theatre, 1999)
03 Lips Like Sugar (Live At The Improv Theatre, 1999)
04 Bedbugs And Ballyhoo (Live At The Improv Theatre, 1999)
05 Nothing Lasts Forever (Radio One Jo Whiley Session, 1997)
06 The Killing Moon (Radio One Jo Whiley Session, 1997)
07 Baseball Bill (Live At The Kilburn National, 1997)+
08 Just A Touch Away (Live At The Kilburn National, 1997)+
09 I’ll Fly Tonight (Live At The Kilburn National, 1997)+
10 Altamont (Live At The Kilburn National, 1997)+
11 Lips Like Sugar (Whyt Radio Acoustic Version, 1997)
12 I Want To Be There (When You Come) (Whyt Radio Acoustic Version, 1997)
13 The Killing Moon (Whyt Radio Acoustic Version, 1997)
14 Forgiven (GLR Robert Elms Acoustic Session, 1997)
15 Nothing Lasts Forever (Radio One Live Lounge Session, 1999)+
+Previously Unreleased

Echo & The Bunnymen’s first best-of compilation Songs To Learn And Sing is back on vinyl for the first time since its original release in 1985. The album is a comprehensive collection of the band’s first four albums, from their second single Rescue, to The Cutter and the anthemic The Killing Moon. It also includes Bring On The Dancing Horses, originally released in conjunction with Songs To Learn & Sing back in 1985. It arrives back on vinyl as Echo & The Bunnymen go back on tour to celebrate 40 years of magical songs throughout 2022.

ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN were formed in Liverpool in 1978 with Ian McCulloch on vocals and rhythm guitar, Will Sergeant on lead guitar and Les Pattinson on bass. They were soon joined by Pete De Freitas on drums and the rest, as they say, is history. By the time of Songs To Learn & Sing original release the band were a force to be reckoned with, pioneering the post-punk, new wave scene with four highly acclaimed studio albums.

TRACK LISTING

Side A:
1. Rescue
2. The Puppet
3. Do It Clean
4. A Promise
5. Back Of Love
6. The Cutter

Side B:
1. Never Stop
2. The Killing Moon
3. Silver
4. Seven Seas
5. Bring On The Dancing Horses

Echo & The Bunnymen formed in Liverpool back in 1978, with Ian McCulloch on vocals, Will Sergeant on guitar, bassist Les Pattinson with Pete De Freitas on drums. Their first release came in the form of the single The Pictures On My Wall, with the B-side Read It In Books. Both tracks would appear on their debut album Crocodiles, released in 1980. Released amid the growing wave of post-punk, Crocodiles cemented the band amongst the best around, with the NME at the time describing it as “probably the best album this year by a British band” and featuring amongst many greatest ever debut album lists.

The lead single from the album, Rescue, was produced by Ian Broudie who would later produce more Echo & The Bunnymen material, as well as later forming The Lightning Seeds in 1989. The single would enter the UK charts, with the album breaking into the top 20 and going on to be certified Gold. The original cover was shot by Brian Griffin near Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. The atmospheric, moody aura of the sleeve sets the tone for quintessential post-punk.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1. Going Up
2. Stars Are Stars
3. Pride
4. Monkeys
5. Crocodiles
Side B
1. Rescue
2. Villiers Terrace
3. Pictures On My Wall
4. All That Jazz
5. Happy Death Men

Following the release of their debut album Crocodiles and the subsequent EP Shine So Hard, Echo & The Bunnymen returned with their second studio album Heaven Up Here. The album spawned the single A Promise as well as Over The Wall in Australia. The album artwork was shot by frequent collaborator Brian Griffin, on a beach in the South Wales town of Porthcawl and won the Best Dressed LP at the 1981 NME Awards.

Seen as a darker album to their debut Crocodiles, the album was well-received by fans and press alike, cementing their cult status in the UK. Heaven Up Here went on to peak at #10 in the UK album charts, being certified Gold in the process, as well as being the band’s first album to chart in the USA. It won the 1981 NME Best Album award and ranks amongst Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest albums of all time.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1. Show Of Strength
2. With A Hip
3. Over The Wall
4. It Was A Pleasure
5. A Promise
Side B
1. Heaven Up Here
2. The Disease
3. All My Colours
4. No Dark Things
5. Turquoise Days
6. All I Want

Echo & The Bunnymen first released the single The Back Of Love in 1982, nearly nine months before the album’s release in 1983. It became the band’s first UK top 20 single as well as charting in Ireland. It led to the release of Porcupine in 1983, with Ian Broudie, who would later form The Lightning Seeds, returning to production duties having co-produced their debut album Crocodiles.

Initially rejected by the band’s label, the album was re-recorded with Indian violinist, singer and composer Lakshminarayana Shankar, who added strings to the tracks. The result was their greatest chart performance, with The Cutter reaching #8 in the singles charts and Porcupine finishing #2 in the album charts and went on to be certified Gold. Porcupine featured on many end of year critics’ lists, with their single The Cutter still remaining highly popular to this day.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1. The Cutter
2. Back Of Love
3. My White Devil
4. Clay
5. Porcupine
Side B
1. Heads Will Roll
2. Ripeness
3. Higher Hell
4. Gods Will Be Gods
5. In Bluer Skies

Echo & The Bunnymen released their fourth studio album Ocean Rain in 1984, enjoying an enamouring cult status following the success of their first three albums. Ocean Rain continued the band’s use of strings, creating a dark, ethereal aura throughout the album.

It produced three singles, Silver, Seven Seas and the massive anthem The Killing Moon; a track frontman Ian McCulloch once stated, “I know there isn’t a band in the world who’s got a song anywhere near that.” It reached #9 in the UK singles chart, and continues to transcend generations to this day, routinely featuring in films and television shows such as Donnie Darko.

The album’s iconic, atmospheric cover art was taken in the stunning Carnglaze Caverns in Cornwall by photographer Brian Griffin, who shot their three previous album covers. Ocean Rain went on to reach #4 in the UK album charts, being certified gold in the process, as well as charting in the USA.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1. Silver
2. Nocturnal Me
3. Crystal Days
4. The Yo Yo Man
5. Thorn Of Crowns
Side B
1. The Killing Moon
2. Seven Seas
3. My Kingdom
4. Ocean Rain

Echo & The Bunnymen - ‘The John Peel Sessions 1979-1983’ is a collection of all the Radio 1 John Peel sessions that they performed in the formative years of the band, and in celebration of these early recordings, a double black LP and a 1CD of this set will be released.

Significantly, this collection of 21 tracks are from the very beginning of the bands existence. With little money, the band used them to demo new material. Many of the songs were written due to the fact a Peel session had been booked, not because the show loved the new songs - demonstrating the level of trust, confidence and love they had for the band.According to Echo & The Bunnymen guitarist Will Sergeant, these recordings could quite simply be some of the most significant in the bands career - “Without John Peel sessions, Echo And The Bunnymen in my opinion, would not exist! It’s that simple. The band got so much support from him and John Walters (Peel’s producer). Recording a Peel session was essential to the development of our songwriting skills while at the same time giving us amazing exposure and self-belief.”

TRACK LISTING

LP1
Side One
1. Read It In Books (John Peel Session)
2. Stars Are Stars (John Peel Session)
3. I Bagsy Yours (John Peel Session)
4. Villiers Terrace (John Peel Session)
5. The Pictures On My Wall (John Peel Session)
6. All That Jazz (John Peel Session)

Side Two
1. Over The Wall (John Peel Session)
2. All My Colours (John Peel Session)
3. That Golden Smile (John Peel Session)
4. Heaven Up Here (John Peel Session)
5. Turquoise Days (John Peel Session)

LP2
Side One
1. Taking Advantage (John Peel Session)
2. An Equation (John Peel Session)
3. No Hands (John Peel Session)
4. Silver (John Peel Session)
5. Seven Seas (John Peel Session)

Side Two
1. The Killing Moon (John Peel Session)
2. Nocturnal Me (John Peel Session)
3. Watch Out Below (John Peel Session)
4. Ocean Rain (John Peel Session)
5. My Kingdom (John Peel Session)

CD Track List:
1. Read It In Books (John Peel Session)
2. Stars Are Stars (John Peel Session)
3. I Bagsy Yours (John Peel Session)
4. Villiers Terrace (John Peel Session)
5. The Pictures On My Wall (John Peel Session)
6. All That Jazz (John Peel Session)
7. Over The Wall (John Peel Session)
8. All My Colours (John Peel Session)
9. That Golden Smile (John Peel Session)
10. Heaven Up Here (John Peel Session)
11. Turquoise Days (John Peel Session)
12. Taking Advantage (John Peel Session)
13. An Equation (John Peel Session)
14. No Hands (John Peel Session)
15. Silver (John Peel Session)
16. Seven Seas (John Peel Session)
17. The Killing Moon (John Peel Session)
18. Nocturnal Me (John Peel Session)
19. Watch Out Below (John Peel Session)
20. Ocean Rain (John Peel Session)
21. My Kingdom (John Peel Session

Bunnymen Classics Transformed & New Songs With Strings & Things Attached.

‘I’m not doing this for anyone else. I’m doing it as it’s important to me to make the songs better. I have to do it.’ Ian McCulloch

This new studio album sees The Bunnymen, still lead by the indominable Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant, revisit some of their greatest songs to rearrange and transform them with co producer Andy Wright…and strings and things. Also included is two brand new tracks to accompany the classics.

Echo & the Bunnymen's dark, swirling fusion of post-punk and The Doors/The Velvets-inspired pop psychedelia has brought the group twenty top 20 hits and nine top 20 albums in the UK so far in their 40 year career. The band have come a long way from the group's infamous first concert as a three-piece with a drum machine in 1979 at the legendary Erics club in Liverpool, The Bunnymen still perform sell-out concerts across the world today.

Their seminal albums 'Crocodiles', 'Heaven Up Here', 'Porcupine' and 'Ocean Rain' have been a major influence for acts such as Coldplay, The Killers and The Flaming Lips whilst later albums 'Evergreen' and 'What Are You Going To Do With Your Life?' and 'Siberia & Meteorites' demonstrate what an amazing body of work the band have.

The Bunnymen are still revered by those in the best of popular culture. In the past year alone, the highly acclaimed and culturally phenomenal Netflix series 'Stranger Things' has used the song 'Nocturnal Me' whilst the equally comparable '13 Reasons Why' has used 'The Killing Moon', a song also used on another Netflix show, 'Dead of Summer'. 

TRACK LISTING

Bring On The Dancing Horses
The Somnambulist
Nothing Lasts Forever
Lips Like Sugar
Rescue
Rust
Angels & Devils
Bedbugs & Ballyhoo
Zimbo
Stars Are Stars
Seven Seas
Ocean Rain
The Cutter
How Far?
The Killing Moon