This is the most recent release in the line of Tones On Tail compilations that have emerged over the years, each of which have somehow or other managed to cast about in the rather slim collection of the band’s recorded material to draw from and repackage into something of appeal. This time out, the draw includes some previously unreleased versions which have been rooted out from the archives, some new sleevenotes from the ever accurate and illuminating Bauhaus archivist Andrew J Brooksbank, and detailed musician/instrument credits for each track (a first).
A vinyl only release in physical format, it wasn’t around for long and commands high figures on the second-hand market now, so if the unreleased versions sound tempting then your best bet is to take a look at one of the digital download vendors in the first instance.
Those otherwise unavailable versions to be found on here for the first time are…
- ‘Performance’ (Original Beck Session) – the single and ‘Pop’ album version of the song was recorded at the R.G. Jones studio – this earlier version was recorded at Beck Studios, most likely the same session as three of the other tracks on side one of ‘Pop’, I would speculate but cannot confirm for sure. It’s a decent version, not radically different, though a lot sparser and lacks the bite of the more common version – the cello and odd samples are all missing, for example.
- ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ (Studio Version) – Previously, there was only a somewhat rough around the edges live version of this track available on the 1987 ‘Night Music’ and 1998 ‘Everything’ compilations. This is a studio recording from the final Tones On Tail recording session.
An excellent and informative interview with Glenn Camping on the tonesontail.net website – GLENN YOU’RE SMILING – an interview with Glenn Campling by SKot Kirkwood of tonesontail.com – conducted during October 2008 – reveals that it was recorded along with a version of The Beatles’ ‘Day Tripper’ for an aborted cover versions album and this eventually released version of ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ was sonically enhanced by Glenn around 2007, salvaged from the archives and given the light of day at last.
Further version craziness of note:
The version of ‘Instrumental’ that is included is unedited and doesn’t fade out as per the originally released version on the band’s debut EP.
The version of ‘OK! This Is The Pops’ is the later ‘phased’ mix that first appeared on the 1998 ‘Everything!’ compilation, not the original single mix. An earlier post, Tones On Tail – Burning Skies/OK, This Is The Pops versions, goes in to some detail on the differences (and also about the multitude of ‘Burning Skies’ versions too).
There is also something to be noted about ‘Twist’ too… see below…
Tracklist:
Side One:
- ‘Go!’ (Single Edit) (2’35”)
- ‘War’ (3’18”)
- ‘Christian Says’ (3’43”)
- ‘There’s Only One’ (4’03”)
- ‘Performance’ (Original Beck Session) (3’43”)
- ‘Copper’ (3’06”)
Side Two:
- ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ (Studio Version) (3’33”)
- ‘Burning Skies’ (6’27”)
- ‘OK! This Is The Pops’ (3’03”)
- ‘Instrumental’ (3’29”)
- ‘Movement Of Fear’ (3’51”)
Side Three:
- ‘A Bigger Splash’ (4’31”)
- ‘The Never Never (Is Forever)’ (3’21”)
- ‘Real Life’ (5’07”)
- ‘Rain’ (8’27”)
Side Four:
- ‘Lions’ (3’57”)
- ‘When You’re Smiling’ (5’48”)
- ‘Twist’ (Extended Version) (6’40”)*
- ‘You, The Night & The Music’ (5’01”)
* On vinyl it is actually the regular length version of ‘Twist’ with a duration of just over 5 minutes – the digital downloads have the extended version as intended though.
So, this is the most recent compilation of the band’s material – the last? Despite such a small recorded legacy I’m sure this is likely not the end of such compilations.