Ten years on and the electrifying energy of Royal Blood’s debut album remains as impactful as ever. Full of colossal riffs and battering ram rhythms matched by aa flair for instantly memorable songwriting, the all-or-nothing performances of ‘Figure It Out’, ‘Come On Over’, ‘Out Of The Black’, ‘Little Monster’ and ‘Ten Tonne Skeleton’ are still viscerally frenetic, and all those tracks remain staples of their live show to this day.

The ‘10th Anniversary Edition’ includes four b-sides from the era, including the deep cut fan favourites ‘One Trick Party’ and ‘Hole’, plus the previously unreleased ‘Sleeptalker’ and Tom Dalgety’s original mix of ‘Ten Tonne Skeleton’. It is completed by five live recordings from 2015, including three songs from their first main stage set at the Reading Festival.

Double Platinum Solo Debut from Brooklyn’s own Lil’ Kim. Executive produced by The Notorious B.I.G., this double LP arrives in a Limited 'Champagne On Ice' colour vinyl. It includes the Queen Bee’s classic records "Crush On You", "Not Tonight" and “No Time”; and features verses by Biggie, Diddy, Jay-Z, Jermaine Dupri & fellow Junior MAFIA member Lil’ Cease.

Lil' Kim's undeniable talent shines through as she effortlessly weaves between hardcore rap and silky-smooth R&B-infused melodies. This ground-breaking album not only leaves a lasting impression but also paved the way for future female artists in hip-hop.

TRACK LISTING

Side One
1. Intro In A-Minor [2:14]
2. Big Momma Thang (Featuring Jay-Z) [4:17]
3. No Time [5:00]
4. Spend A Little Doe [5:35]
Side Two
1. Take It! [0:46]
2. Crush On You [4:35]
3. Drugs [4:20]
Side Three
1. Scheamin’ [0:49]
2. Queen B@$#H [3:17]
3. Dreams [4:39]
4. M.A.F.I.A. Land [4:37]
Side Four
1. We Don’t Need It [4:10]
2. Not Tonight [4:31]
3. Player Haters [0:54]
4. **** You [2:53]

2022 marks the 40th anniversary of the debut album of one of the most critically-acclaimed and pioneering bands to come out of the UK. Talk Talk’s The Party’s Over was a start of a journey for Mark Hollis (vocals), Simon Brenner (keyboards), Lee Harris (drums), and Paul Webb (bass) who constantly evolved throughout their career from synth-pop beginnings into pioneering avant-garde post-rock in the latter stages of the band, being a large influence on artists such as Radiohead, St. Vincent and many more.

Talk Talk launched with the release of the single Mirror Man in February 1982, followed by Today and the eponymous single Talk Talk, with the latter two charting #14 and #23 in the UK respectively. The Party’s Over was produced by Colin Thurston, the former engineer for David Bowie but was better known for producing Duran Duran's first two albums. Charting in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and USA, The Party’s Over is classic synth-pop teamed with lyrical depth that went on to be synonymous with lead singer, Mark Hollis. Earlier this year to celebrate the 40th anniversary of these singles, many of the B-sides were made available digitally for the first time such as Strike Up The Band and ? (aka Question Mark).

TRACK LISTING

Side A:
Talk Talk
It’s So Serious
Today
The Party’s Over
Side B:
Hate
Have You Heard The News
Mirror Man
Another Word
Candy

When first released back in 2000, Tourist was a global success, selling over four million albums worldwide. It was Ludovic Navarre’s (aka. St Germain) third studio album which really transformed his career into superstardom; combining elements of house and nu jazz to produce an impeccable album to chill out to. The album continues to be hugely popular to this day, with the critically acclaimed Jorja Smith doing a cover of Rose rouge earlier this year.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of his Tourist album, Ludovic Navarre aka St Germain has invited UK, South Africa, USA, Reunion Island and France producers, DJs and remixers with various musical inspirations, from Deep House to Afro House and Chicago House.

He declares: “I would like to thank all the people I asked to travel through their favorite Tourist album track. Some of them worked on my last Africa-in- spired album in 2015, like my dear friend Atjazz, who helped me a lot on this new project, and also Terry Laird Dj Deep and Traumer. I don’t have to introduce highly respected newcomers such as Nightmares On Wax , Jovonn, Ron Trent, Black Motion, Osunlade and Jullian Gomes. I truly enjoy their passion for music, their personality and musical integrity. I know they’ve got soul!”

TRACK LISTING

1. Rose Rouge (Atjazz Galaxy Aart Remix)
2. Sure Thing (Osunlade Yoruba Soul Mix)
3. Rose Rouge (Terry Laird Nu Maloya Fusion Mix)
4. Rose Rouge (Ron Trent JazzFunkSuite Remix)
5. So Flute (Ludovic Navarre Amapiano Version)
6. Sure Thing (Black Motion Anniversary Mix)
7. Rose Rouge (Jovonn Oldskool 90s Remix)
8. Sure Thing (Jullian Gomes Remix)
9. Rose Rouge (Nightmares On Wax ReRub)
10. What You Think About (Traumer Re-Jammed Remix)
11. Sure Thing (DJ Deep Remix)

'Early Joni - 1963' is Joni’s earliest-known previously unreleased recording where a 19-year-old Mitchell performs at CFQC AM, a radio station in her hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Like several of Mitchell’s past albums, the cover for EARLY JONI features a self-portrait and marks her first new art in many years.

Looking back, Mitchell reflects on her early label of “folk singer”: “The early stuff, I shouldn’t be such a snob against it. A lot of these songs, I just lost them. They fell away. They only exist in these recordings. For so long I rebelled against the term, ‘I was never a folk-singer.’ I would get pissed off if they put that label on me. I didn’t think it was a good description of what I was. And then I listened and…it was beautiful. It made me forgive my beginnings. And I had this realization…I was a folk singer!”

TRACK LISTING

1. “House Of The Rising Sun”
2. “John Hardy”
3. “Dark As A Dungeon”
4. “Tell Old Bill”
5. “Nancy Whiskey”
6. “Anathea”
7. “Copper Kettle”
8. “Fare Thee Well (Dink’s Song)”
9. “Molly Malone”

'Live at Canterbury House - 1967' includes Mitchell's previously unreleased, entire three-set performance from October 27, 1967.

Looking back, Mitchell reflects on her early label of “folk singer”: “The early stuff, I shouldn’t be such a snob against it. A lot of these songs, I just lost them. They fell away. They only exist in these recordings. For so long I rebelled against the term, ‘I was never a folk-singer.’ I would get pissed off if they put that label on me. I didn’t think it was a good description of what I was. And then I listened and…it was beautiful. It made me forgive my beginnings. And I had this realization…I was a folk singer!”

TRACK LISTING

Side One: First Set
1. “Conversation”
2. Intro To “Come To The Sunshine”
3. “Come To The Sunshine”
4. Intro To “Chelsea Morning”
5. “Chelsea Morning”
6. Intro To “Gift Of The Magi”
7. “Gift Of The Magi”
Side Two
1. “Play Little David”
2. Intro To “The Dowy Dens Of Yarrow”
3. “The Dowy Dens Of Yarrow”
4. “I Had A King”
5. Intro To “Free Darling”
6. “Free Darling”
7. Intro To “Cactus Tree”
8. “Cactus Tree”

Side Three: Second Set
1. “Little Green”
2. Intro To “Marcie”
3. “Marcie”
4. Intro To “Ballerina Valerie”
5. “Ballerina Valerie”
6. “The Circle Game”
Side Four
1. Intro To “Michael From Mountains”
2. “Michael From Mountains”
3. “Go Tell The Drummer Man”
4. Intro To “I Don’t Know Where I Stand”
5. “I Don’t Know Where I Stand”

Side Five: Third Set
1. “A Melody In Your Name”
2. Intro To “Carnival In Kenora”
3. “Carnival In Kenora”
4. “Songs To Aging Children Come”
5. Intro To “Dr. Junk”
6. “Dr. Junk”
Side Six
1. “Morning Morgantown”
2. Intro To “Night In The City”
3. “Night In The City”
4. “Both Sides Now”
5. “Urge For Going”

At various points along the trajectory between then and now, Travis have sold millions of albums (just under three million of The Man Who in the UK alone); they’ve been the subject of an award-winning feature length documentary (Almost Fashionable) and Fran has elicited acclaim from Paul McCartney, Elton John and Graham Nash – all songwriters whose ability to divine a timeless melody out of thin air has sustained them through the decades.

’10 Songs’ is an album that holds you in its own emotional microclimate at the outset and keeps you there. It’s also a grown-up record. ’10 Songs’ is a record about the way life comes at love and what love does to weather those challenges. “This is no rehearsal/This is the take,” sings Fran at the beginning of Waving At The Window, over an insistent piano hook, “Promises you once kept/Are going to break

Every track on this album carries an even load. No passengers here. Nowhere to hide. “I write songs in an antiquated way,” explains their creator, “Sitting at the bottom of the bed, ‘pouring my simple sorrow to the sound hole and my knee’, as Joni Mitchell put it.” As a songwriter based in L.A., Fran Healy doesn’t need anyone to tell him this is no longer how it’s done. It’s far from uncommon for the credits on successful modern pop songs to feature upwards of ten writers. Hits by committee. “It’s fine,” notes Fran, “Personally though, I’ll take ten songs written by one person over one song written by ten people. And if I feel that way, then surely someone else must do too.”

TRACK LISTING

1. Waving At The Window
2. The Only Thing
3. Valentine
4. Butterflies
5. A Million Hearts
6. A Ghost
7. All Fall Down
8. Kissing In The Wind
9. Nina’s Song
10. No Love Lost

Deluxe Album Products To Include Demo Versions Of The Above Tracks On Disc 2.

Electronic are proud to present the release of their self-titled album. Pressed on 180g black vinyl, this reissue features the black cover on vinyl for the very first time, which was first used on the CD version released in 1994.

Electronic were the coming together of Bernard Sumner and Johnny Marr in 1987. This was the year of the sudden and wholly unexpected demise of The Smiths, who imploded in July after Marr left the group. Two months later, midway through a North American tour, Bernard Sumner shocked his bandmates by announcing that he planned to take time out from New Order.

Marr and Sumner had met in 1984 when Marr added guitar to Atom Rock by Quando Quango, an electro-dance track co-produced by Sumner. Marr sums up their coming together for Electronic; ‘We were two musicians who wanted to get away from the suffocating politics of the band. At the same time, it was OK for duos and DJs and non-groups to make records, and that really appealed to Bernard and me.”

The project was a joyous Venn Diagram of Sumner and Marr’s influences. Although ostensibly coming from different disciplines, the experimental dance-pop of New Order and the fullbodied jangle of The Smiths, their common interests were many: dance music, a good tune and pushing musical boundaries. At the time of release (May 1991), ‘Electronic’ was met with huge acclaim and stands up as one of the most important electronica albums of all time.

TRACK LISTING

Side One

Idiot Country
Reality
Tighten Up
The Patience Of A Saint
Gangster


Side Two

Soviet
Get The Message
Try All You Want
Some Distant Memory
Feel Every Beat

Stiff Little Fingers are proud to release Inflammable Material. Originally released in 1979, this seminal record, printed on black vinyl, explores themes of teenage boredom and sectarian violence with an underlying insight into Northern Irish life during the peak of the tensions.

Their punk rock aesthetic is authentic, with raw lyricism and harsh instrumentation. Containing the anthemic track ‘Alternative Ulster’, Stiff Little Fingers promote the ‘grab it and change it’ narrative. 

TRACK LISTING

Side One:
1. Suspect Device
2. State Of Emergency
3. Here We Are
4. Wasted Life
5. No More Of That
6. Barbed Wire
7. White Noise
8. Breakout

Side Two:
1. Law And Order
2. Rough Trade
3. Johnny Was
4. Alternative Ulster
5. Closed Groove

The eighth album from Muse, ‘Simulation Theory’, features eleven tracks and was produced by the band, along with several award-winning producers, including Rich Costey, Mike Elizondo, Shellback and Timbaland.

‘Simulation Theory’ follows ‘Drones’, released in 2015. Since then the internationally acclaimed three piece: Matt Bellamy, Dominic Howard and Chris Wolstenholme, have toured extensively, taking the ground breaking ‘Drones World Tour’ to fans across the globe. 

TRACK LISTING

CD/Vinyl:
Algorithm
The Dark Side
Pressure
Propaganda
Break It To Me
Something Human
Thought Contagion
Get Up And Fight
Blockades
Dig Down
The Void

Deluxe CD:
As Above +
Algorithm (Alternate Reality Version)
The Dark Side (Alternate Reality Version)
Propaganda (Acoustic)
Something Human (Acoustic)
Dig Down (Acoustic Gospel Version)

This raw, intimate recording, which took place at the start of Prince’s career right before he achieved international stardom, is similar in format to the Piano & A Microphone Tour that he ended his career with in 2016. The nine track, 35-minute album features a previously unreleased home studio cassette recording of Prince at his piano captured in 1983.

The private rehearsal provides a rare, intimate glimpse into Prince’s creative process as he worked through songs which include “17 Days” and “Purple Rain” (neither of which would be released until 1984), a cover of Joni Mitchell’s “A Case Of You”, “Strange Relationship” (not released until 1987 on his critically acclaimed Sign O’ The Times album), and “International Lover”.

The album also includes a rare recording of the 19th Century spiritual “Mary Don’t You Weep” which was used to spine-tingling effect during the end credits of Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman in theatres August 2018.

STAFF COMMENTS

Patrick says: There's never really been any doubt about Prince's genius, but this previously unreleased set sees the Purple legend sweep through a handful of his many many classics, along with a couple of stunning covers, arranged/improvised for piano and voice. Intimate, expressive and unfeasibly funky, this is pretty much as good as it gets.

TRACK LISTING

1. 17 Days
2. Purple Rain
3. A Case Of You
4. Mary Don’t You Weep
5. Strange Relationship
6. International Lover
7. Wednesday
8. Cold Coffee & Cocaine
9. Why The Butterflies

This special limited edition DAVID BOWIE 7" picture disc, is a double A-side of the radio edits of 2018 versions of ZEROES and BEAT OF YOUR DRUM. Both tracks are from NEVER LET ME DOWN (2018), a new version of the 1987 album featured in the forthcoming boxset LOVING THE ALIEN (1983-1988) which is released on 12th October.

NEVER LET ME DOWN (2018), is a new production of Bowie’s final ‘solo’ album of the ‘80s. Producer Mario McNulty worked on the tracks at Electric Lady Studios in New York with longtime Bowie musicians Sterling Campbell (Black Tie White Noise, Outside, ‘hours…’, Heathen, Reality and The Next Day) on drums, Reeves Gabrels (Tin Machine, Black Tie White Noise, Outside, Earthling and ‘hours...') & David Torn (Heathen, Reality and The Next Day) on guitars and Tim Lefebvre (Blackstar) on bass.

ZEROES, the lyrics of which reference Prince’s Little Red Corvette was Bowie’s salute to the ‘60s. He described it as “The ultimate happy-go-lucky rock tune, based in the nonsensical period of psychedelia”. Mario McNulty commented, "Stripping this song down to its core revealed a track that could have been right at home on Hunky Dory, I kept Peter Frampton’s sitar (which was originally owned by Jimi Hendrix) as it still fits against the new guitars from Reeves Gabrels”.

Of BEAT OF YOUR DRUM Mario McNulty says, “David Torn’s ambient guitars start the song that now lead into a much darker world than its shiny predecessor. David sang all the backing vocals on this which I have kept.”

TRACK LISTING

A-Side ZEROES (2018) (RADIO EDIT)
(David Bowie)
Produced By David Bowie, David Richards And Mario J McNulty
Mixed And Recorded By Mario J McNulty

AA-Side BEAT OF YOUR DRUM (2018) (RADIO EDIT)
(David Bowie)
Produced By David Bowie, David Richards And Mario J McNulty
Mixed And Recorded By Mario J McNulty

Neil Young will open his archive and release Hitchhiker, an unreleased new studio album. The 10-track acoustic solo album was recorded in Malibu, CA at Indigo Studio in 1976. The original session was produced by Young’s long-time studio collaborator David Briggs.

Recorded between Zuma and American Stars and Bars as a solo album in a single session, the resultant performances are truly breathtaking and passionate. The simplicity of a single voice and guitar captured here is as pure and powerful as it gets, with only Young, Briggs and actor Dean Stockwell in the room at the time of recording. A few of the songs would not appear on vinyl until years later. Some have never been heard, included in the original sessions for Neil Young and Crazy Horse’s Dume, another unreleased record of original sessions that yielded the classic album, Zuma. When the Hitchhiker album was recorded, none of the included songs had ever been released and many of the performances of the songs were the first ever. This is truly an album of original performances

TRACK LISTING

2CD Track List:

CD 1:
Arnold Layne (Single) 2.56
See Emily Play (Single) 2.55
Matilda Mother (2010 Remix) 3.58
Jugband Blues† (2010 Remix) 3.01
Paintbox (Single B Side) 3.49
Flaming† (BBC Session, 25 Sept 1967) 2.36
In The Beechwoods† (2010 Mix) 4.42
Point Me At The Sky (Single) 3.40
Careful With That Axe, Eugene (Single B Side Version) 5.46
Embryo (Harvest Records Sampler ‘Picnic’) 4.35
Ummagumma Radio Ad† (Capitol US) 0.22
Grantchester Meadows† (BBC Session, 12 May 1969) 3.55
Cymbaline† (BBC Session, 12 May 1969) 3.43
Interstellar Overdrive† (Live, Paradiso, Amsterdam, Aug 1969) 4.19
Green Is The Colour† (BBC Session, 12 May 1969) 3.21
Careful With That Axe, Eugene† (BBC Session, 12 May 1969) 3.26

Total: 57 Mins 27 Secs Approx..


CD 2:
On The Highway† (Zabriskie Point Remix) 1.17
Auto Scene Version 2† (Zabriskie Point Remix) 1.13
The Riot Scene† (Zabriskie Point Remix, Us & Them – Piano/bass Only) 1.40
Looking At Map† (Zabriskie Point Remix) 1.56
Take Off† (Zabriskie Point Remix) 1.19
Embryo (alternative Version)† (BBC Session, 16 July 1970) 10.45
Atom Heart Mother† (Live Montreux, 21 Nov 1970) (Band Only) 18.33
Nothing Part 14† (Echoes Work In Progress) 7.06
Childhood’s End† (2016 Remix) 4.33
Free Four† (2016 Remix) 4.16
Stay† (2016 Remix) 4.06

Total: 58 Mins 44 Secs Approx..

† Unreleased Track/version

Realising that trip-hop was a dead end, at least as far as hipness goes, Morcheeba expanded their sonic palette on their second album, 'Big Calm'. Trip-hop and dance rhythms remain, but the trio has spent more time writing songs, crafting an album where pop, lounge, film soundtracks, reggae, jazz, and electronica all peacefully coexist. Consequently, 'Big Calm' is a stylistic tour de force, evidence that Morcheeba have turned into a mature, sophisticated group with impeccable taste. Occasionally, the album can sound a little distant, as if the fusions and productions were more important than the actual songs, but the trio is so musically adept, and Skye Edwards' voice is so enchanting, that 'Big Calm' become irresistible in its own way.

TRACK LISTING

Side One
1. The Sea
2. Shoulder Holster
3. Part Of The Process
4. Blindfold
5. Let Me See
Side Two
1. Bullet Proof
2. Over And Over
3. Friction
4. Diggin’ A Watery Grave
5. Fear And Love
6. Big Calm

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2015 EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the critically worshiped Clouds Taste Metallic, The Flaming Lips 7th studio album originally released in 1995. THE LIPS love RSD and to celebrate, they offer a series three Limited Edition 10” EPs on different colored vinyl that contain tracks previously released on only CD overseas…until now. These rarities will now become available for the first time EVER in any format in the US. Later in the year the band will be releasing expanded anniversary editions of Clouds Taste Metallic with previously unreleased recordings from the sessions including demos, outtakes, radio sessions, live performances and more. Further details to be announced soon.

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A:
Bad Days (Edit) & She Don't Use Jelly (Primitive Demos)

SIDE B:
Girl With Hair Like An Explosion (Non LP Track), Giraffe (Demo) 

Fans of Phoenix will rejoice that global indifference to their last album hasn't prompted any major changes in their sound. On 'Alphabetical', their second attempt to revive the soft AM rockisms of a bygone era, the mood remains pretty much the same. Blended against crème fraîche harmonies and treated with subtle filters, it straddles each song with enough personality to carry the project, although you can't help feeling stronger melodies might have helped. For comparisons think Ben Folds Five, Hall & Oates, Eels even. There's even a hint of Dean Freidman in there somewhere, but that's no bad thing.

"Heatwave", the funk-flavoured track on 1999's Source Rocks compilation, suggested Phoenix were another product of the French filtered disco wave. On the basis of United, it was a red herring because the album is suffused with breezy, retro-flavoured rock numbers. One of the band, keyboard player and guitarist Branco, was in Darlin - the indie act that spawned Daft Punk - but if they went one way, he surely went the other. United is reminiscent of West Coast American FM pop rock, with nods to everyone from Crosby Stills Nash and Young to "Jump"-era Van Halen. The thrilling "Too Young" and swooning "On Fire" are rattling good pop songs that fall on the right side of affectionate pastiche. "Summertime" is an enthusiastic power pop thrash, "Embuscade" a Steely Dan-styled jazz rock instrumental and "Summerdays" a carefree country-tinged trip to the beach.

‘lullaby and…The Ceaseless Roar’ is Robert Plant’s first record since 2010’s ‘Band of Joy’, which followed 2007’s six-time Grammy Award–winning collaboration with Alison Krauss, ‘Raising Sand’.

Produced by Robert Plant, the album is his label debut and features 11 new recordings, 9 of which are original songs written by Robert Plant with his band, The Sensational Space Shifters—Justin Adams: bendirs, djembe, guitars, tehardant, background vocals; John Baggott: keyboards, loops, moog bass, piano, tabal, background vocals; Juldeh Camara: kologo, ritti, Fulani vocals; Billy Fuller: bass, drum programming, omnichord, upright bass; Dave Smith: drum set; and Liam “Skin” Tyson: banjo, guitar, background vocals.

‘The Division Bell’, the band’s 1994 multi-million selling album was the last studio album to be released by the band: David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright.

This 20th anniversary edition is remastered for vinyl in 2014 from the original analogue masters and includes full-length tracks across 2-LP’s for the first time and comes in a gatefold sleeve.

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1. Cluster One (2011 - Remaster)
2. What Do You Want From Me (2011 - Remaster)
3. Poles Apart (2011 - Remaster)
Side 2
1. Marooned (2011 - Remaster)
2. A Great Day For Freedom (2011 - Remaster)
3. Wearing The Inside Out (2011 - Remaster)
Side 3
1. Take It Back (2011 - Remaster)
2. Coming Back To Life (2011 - Remaster)
3. Keep Talking (2011 - Remaster)
Side 4
1. Lost For Words (2011 - Remaster)
2. High Hopes (2011 - Remaster)

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2014 EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

Splatter coloured vinyl, limited to 400 copies.

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2014 EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

180g vinyl limited to 500 copies.

This is 1987's sibling to 84's "Hatful Of Hollow" with 14 tracks from non-album singles compiled with one brand new song. "You just Haven't Earnt It Yet, Baby" was another sparkling jangler that was pressed as a single then pulled, whilst the other 2 curios are a new and superior version of "Stretch Out And Wait" and the original, foggier mix of "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" which has much more charm (recorded in Chorlton!) than the "Queen Is Dead" version. Album singles are still featured on this comp. though, and that diluted its impact somewhat rendering "TWWL" not quite as pure an artistic statement as its sister record. Hey: still superb though!

You'll know that The Smiths were prolific: all 4 of their proper albums were released in successive calendar years. But one thing that might have got lost with time is just how many non-album singles (with brand new b-sides too) they released. A mere month after each of their first 3 albums came out, there was a one-off single already heralding the new! With "Hatful Of Hollow" (Autumn 1984) there had been 2 twelve-inches (5 brand new tracks) since the debut album in March and the idea was to put these and the much loved BBC Sessions songs on one cheaply priced record. As some fans (and Morrissey too) had misgivings about the production of the debut, this was a good way to let people hear what many consider to be better versions. One of these songs was the incredible "This Night Has Opened My Eyes" which was never properly recorded by the band and is only available on this disc.

STAFF COMMENTS

Andy says: The dream has gone but the music is real!!

Only a year after their debut, 1985's follow-up was a huge leap forward for The Smiths. Soundwise, definitely: tighter, louder, clearer, more rocking, and in opener "The Headmaster Ritual", and weepie "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" they had two more top draw classics to add to their canon. There were different types of song on display here, whether it's the Elvis-cribbing, super atmospheric, cyclical scene setter of "Rusholme Ruffians", the rock overloaded hurtle of "What She Said" or the churning, jarring horror of the title track, here was a completely unique band expanding their template.

One of the greatest albums of all time, but then you don't need me to tell you that! Again there were surprises: the sprawling power of the title track, the vaudevillian jokiness and throwaway lightness of "Frankly Mr. Shankly" and "Vicar In a Tutu" respectively, the swaying poise and drama of "I Know It's Over" and the murky psychedelia of "Never Had No-one Never". These tunes rung the changes but the remaining 5 were world classics: "Bigmouth Strikes Again", "Cemetry Gates", "The Boy with the Thorn in his Side", "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" and, of course "There is a Light That Never Goes Out". The whole thing was perfectly sequenced to take you on a proper musical journey. A truly beautiful record.

This was initially an America-only release, combining all the non-album singles The Smiths had released up until that point. It's "Hatful Of Hollow" (without the BBC stuff) and "The World Won't Listen" combined and beautifully sequenced onto what was originally a lovely double album. There was one new 3 track twelve-inch released after "World" in England though: "Sheila Take A Bow" and its superior b-sides "Is It Really So Strange?" and "Sweet And Tender Hooligan" are on "Louder Than Bombs", as is an ever so slightly different mix of "You Just Haven't Earnt It Yet, Baby". U.K fans didn't need this record, but we all bought it anyway, for the sleeve and the sequencing. Sad but true!

STAFF COMMENTS

Andy says: The sun shines out of their behinds!

This was a live album recorded in London on "The Queen Is Dead" tour, around the time that the "Ask" single was released in the autumn of 1986. The rockier version of that song here makes amends for the jangle-lite softness of the original. Elsewhere, Elvis's "His Latest Flame" segues into "Rusholme Ruffians" and "What She Said" spills into the outro of "Rubber Ring". Oddities aside, this album captures The Smiths during the 6 months when Craig Gannon was in the band as an extra guitarist. This allowed Johnny Marr to rock out and relax: something you wouldn't really associate The Smiths with. But here's the proof. Live, they were an explosion, a raucous celebration, and certainly (whisper it: FUN!) There was very little time for navel-gazing at a Smiths gig. This album captures that. With some aplomb. Rock on!

Whilst nearly all of The Smiths themselves cite this as their favourite album, in reality it couldn't quite match the splendour and indeed songs, of "The Queen Is Dead". It has a subdued, more mysterious and rock-classicist flavour and again introduces song types not to be found elsewhere: they seldom repeated themselves The Smiths. The enormo anthem here is the heartrending, absolutely beautiful "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me", but the whole record flows in an utterly compelling way. There's only one weakish track ("Death At One's Elbow" is intentionally daft and trashy) and when that's followed by the gorgeous "I Won't Share You" well you'd be a fool to complain. This was their final album together. The spell was broken. The dream was over!

There was so much excitement and expectation around The Smiths' debut in early 1984. They were only two singles in but had already made a massive media splash with Morrissey's hilariously arrogant interviews. There'd been BBC Sessions and fans already knew all the words, riotously passionate gigs and much talk of the band coming to SAVE POP MUSIC from plastic, vacuous Eighties glitz; an Us and Them climate where you were either a disciple or not! In the midst of all this the actual record got lost somewhat, but three quarters of it is still outstanding. Nowhere else will you find "Miserable Lie", "I Don't Owe You Anything", "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle" or "Suffer Little Children", but in "Reel Around the Fountain", "Hand in Glove", "Still Ill" and "What Difference does it Make" the band crafted classics that would last forever.

The Flaming Lips followed-up their interactive 1997 extravaganza 'Zaireeka' in typical unforeseen fashion by releasing their 1999 magnum opus 'The Soft Bulletin', the most emotionally accessible and musically grandiose statement of the band's career. Wayne Coyne's plaintive and spiritual explorations on the human experience are brought to life as never before here by a symphonic multidimensional sound that is as beautiful as it is transcendent.

Featuring ethereal and poignant classics like "Race For The Prize," "Waitin' For A Superman," "Suddenly Everything Has Changed" and "Feeling Yourself Disintegrate" among others, 'The Soft Bulletin' proved to be that elusive artistic breakthrough from a band that looked destined to be eternally restless. Not only is 'The Soft Bulletin' a high water mark for The Flaming Lips on multiple levels, it's arguably one of the best recordings of the decade plus.

Esser's remarkable first foray into the world of the longplayer with "Braveface" is a looking like a step closer to owning one of this years most rewarding and eclectic debut albums. Mixing ska-influenced electro pop with wry and interesting lyrics, this is a confident and fun record from a multi-talented performer. Includes the single "Satisfied".

Oh joy. It's just as inventive, creative, unpredictable, refreshing and downright beautiful as "The Soft Bulletin". But! Hooray, it's poppier. It loses nothing but gains everything! (Also including a chunkier, tastier bottom end). It's so hard to review - it's just absolutely BRILLIANT. To put on your headphones and play and play and play again. All summer! Forever!!

The follow-up to 1999s "Californication". Sixteen songs, over an hour's worth of music.

Brilliant 1979 vintage Sly Stone funks it up.

1980 Mr Sylvester Stewart asks that important question "Who In the Funk Do You Think You Are?"