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PALE FOUNTAINS

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The Pale Fountains

The Complete Virgin Years

Cherry Red

• The Pale Fountains were an English band formed in Liverpool in 1980, and composed of Mick Head, Chris McCaffery, Thomas Whelan, Andy Diagram and Ken Moss.

• Inspired by 1960s music such as Love, Burt Bacharach and The Beatles, the group released their debut single ‘(There's Always) Something on My Mind’ in October 1982. Although the Pale Fountains failed to make much commercial headway, the band would earn critical praise for the two albums released on Virgin, ‘Pacific Street’ (1984) and ‘...From Across the Kitchen Table’ (1985).

This 4-CD box set brings together both albums as well as all the B-Sides, mixes, and some previously unreleased material from the Virgin vaults all housed in a sturdy box with extensive sleeve notes by Classic Pop’s John Earls.

Mick Head – Vocals, Guitar (1981–1987)
Chris McCaffery – Bass Guitar (1981–1987)
Thomas Whelan – Drums (1981–1987)
Andy Diagram – Trumpet (1982–1984)
John Head – Guitar (1984–1987)

STAFF COMMENTS

Andy says: Michael Head's first band were so romantic and melodic and young and beautiful. It's all here!

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE:
Pacific Street
1 Reach
2 Something On My Mind
3 Unless
4 Southbound Excursion
5 Natural
6 Faithful Pillow (Pt 1)
7 (Don't Let Your Love) Start A War
8 Beyond Fridays Field
9 Abergele Next Time
10 Crazier
11 Faithful Pillow (Pt 2)
BONUS TRACKS
12 Thank You - Single
13 Meadow Of Love - Single B Side
14 (There's Always) Something On My Mind - Remix
15 Palm Of My Hand - Single
16 Palm Of My Hand - Instrumental - Single B Side
17 Love's A Beautiful Place - Single B Side
18 Unless - Extended Version 12" Single
19 (Don't Let Your Love) Start A War - Single
20 (Don't Let Your Love) Start A War - Extended Version 12" Single
21 Love Situation - Single B Side

DISC TWO:
Mixes And Unreleased Tracks
1 Partner Picking Man - Rough Mix With Bass And
Drums*
2 Fight Think Love / Love Situation - Rough Mix Take 1*
3 Jock's A String Bean - Rough Mix*
4 Fight Think Love / Love Situation - Rough Mix Take 2*
5 Spanish Tragedy (Beyond Fridays Field) - Rough Instrumental Mix*
6 Take A Little Shelter - Rough Mix Take 2*
7 Partner Picking Man - Acoustic*
8 Sun Drenched Girl (Crazier) - Acoustic
9 Lavinia's Dream - Rough Mix Take 1
10 (There's Always) Something On My Mind - Rough Mix
11 Hey There Fred - Rough Mix
12 One By One - Rough Mix Take 2*
13 Norfolk Broads - Rough Mix Take 1
14 Untitled Jam / 7 And 7 Is*
15 Unless - Rough Mix
16 (There's Always) Something On My Mind - Rough Mix
17 Sundrenched Girl (Crazier) - Rough Mix
18 Southbound Excursion - Rough Mix

DISC THREE:
From Across The Kitchen Table
1 Shelter
2 Stole The Love
3 Jean's Not Happening
4 Bicycle Thieves
5 Limit
6 27 Ways To Get Back Home
7 Bruised Arcade
8 These Are The Things
9 Its Only Hard
10 ...From Across The Kitchen Table
11 Hey
12 September Sting

DISC FOUR:
Mixes And Unreleased Tracks
1 From Across The Kitchen Table - Extended Version 12" Single
2 Bicycle Thieves - Remix Single B Side
3 Just A Girl - Remix Single B Side
4 Thank You - Remix Single B Side
5 Silver Bendix – Demo*
6 The Outsider – Demo*
7 Detrimentally (Stole The Love) - Demo
8 27 Ways To Get Back Home - Demo
9 Summertime (It's Hard) -Demo
10 Shelter - Demo
11 Yeah Eah Eah – Demo*
12 These Are The Things (Stay) - Demo
13 Bruised Arcade - Demo

*Previously Unreleased.

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Pale Fountains

From Across The Kitchen Table - 2023 Reissue

Proper Music

Ltd LP

£25.99
Usually ships within: 2-10 days

180g vinyl.

Cat Number

UMCLP028

Release date
3 Feb '23
Format Info

180g vinyl.

The Pale Fountains were formed in Liverpool in 1980 by Mick (as he was then known) Head with Chris McCaffery on bass, Thomas Whelan on drums, trumpeter Andy Diagram and guitarist Ken Moss.

Signing with Virgin in late 1982, this was the first time the music world became aware of the work of singer-songwriter Michael Head.

1985's . . . From Across The Kitchen Table was produced by Ian Broudie, soon to form and redefine sugar-pop with The Lightning Seeds. The album is more unified than its predecessor as it was recorded over a shorter period of time. Lead single Jean's Not Happening is one of the great lost indie gems of the 80s, complete with a powerful string arrangement. The closing song, September Sting, is a joyous slice of scouse-a-billy that points the way clearly to later groups such as The Las.

Near four decades later, Michael Head is adored by his hardcore following and the wider world freshly discovers him as each of his new releases achieves widescale acclaim, whether it be his subsequent band, Shack, or his current outfit, the Red Elastic Band. But The Pale Fountains was where it all began.

This re-issue faithfully replicates the original 1985 Virgin Records UK release with printed inner and is pressed onto high quality 180g vinyl.

STAFF COMMENTS

Andy says: Brilliant follow up to Pacific Street, this record had a harder sound than its voluptuous predecessor but in Shelter, These are the Things, It's Only Hard and the title track Mick's songwriting was still right up there. Did I miss one out? Jean's Not Happening: World Number One that never was!!!

TRACK LISTING

Shelter
Stole The Love
Jean's Not Happening
Bicycle Thieves
Limit
27 Ways To Get Back Home
Bruised Arcade
These Are The Things
It's Only Hard
... From Across The Kitchen Table
Hey
September Sting

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MORE INFORMATION

Pale Fountains

Pacific Street - 2023 Reissue

Proper Music

Ltd LP

£25.99
Usually ships within: 2-10 days

High quality 180g vinyl.

Cat Number

UMCLP029

Release date
3 Feb '23
Format Info

High quality 180g vinyl.

The Pale Fountains were formed in Liverpool in 1980 by Mick (as he was then known) Head with Chris McCaffery on bass, Thomas Whelan on drums, trumpeter Andy Diagram and guitarist Ken Moss - Signing with Virgin in late 1982, this was the first time the music world became aware of the work of singer-songwriter Michael Head.

At the time of its release in February 1984, Head described Pacific Street as "like a greatest hits LP, except we haven't had any hits!" It not only showcases the ambition of 80s pop in general, but the very specific singularity of the Liverpool scene, that seemed to add love and (Arthur Lee's) Love to everything recorded. It reflects the swing away from the post-punk and funk of the early years of the decade, aiming for a mellower, bossa-nova influenced pop. It is difficult to understand how tracks such as Unless and (Don't Let Your Love) Start A War were not big hits and are not viewed as standards.

Near four decades later, Michael Head is adored by his hardcore following and the wider world freshly discovers him as each of his new releases achieves widescale acclaim, whether it be his subsequent band, Shack, or his current outfit, the Red Elastic Band. But The Pale Fountains was where it all began.

This re-issue faithfully replicates the original 1984 Virgin Records UK release with printed inner and is pressed onto high quality 180g vinyl.

STAFF COMMENTS

Andy says: Just a really beautiful pop record. So youthful ,romantic and impossibly melodic. It felt like Liverpool had produced a new, young genius.

TRACK LISTING

Reach
Something On My Mind
Unless
Southbound Excursion
Natural
Faithful Pillow Part 1
(Don't Let Your Love) Start A War
Beyond Friday's Field
Abergele Next Time
Crazier
Faithful Pillow Part 2

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