Category: Compilation albums

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David Sylvian compilations across the years – Part 3

The fourth, and to date last, of the main David Sylvian related compilations featured in this series – two versions, side-by-side, of the ‘Sleepwalkers’ CD, which compiles collaborations with other artists from the early 2000s onwards.

Side-by-side David Sylvian 'Sleepwalkers' CDs - original (left) and re-issue (right) - front cover designs
^ Side-by-side David Sylvian ‘Sleepwalkers’ CDs – 2010 original (left) and 2022 re-issue (right) – front cover designs

First released in 2010, there was a re-mastered version in 2022 and on this occasion a micro-site to promote the 2022 release (an updated variant of the page for the original September 2010 release) presents some very useful detail spanning both versions. The notes from the site nicely encapsulates the spirit behind the compilation with the following summary;

in the 00s, DAVID SYLVIAN produced two of his strongest and most solitary statements, BLEMISH and MANAFON. but those records don’t tell the whole story. during that the same period, SYLVIAN created an alternate body of work: a series of collaborations and side projects with leading talents of pop and improv, electronic and contemporary classical music. the best of these recordings are gathered here on SLEEPWALKERS, meticulously sequenced and remixed: the fruits of one-off meetings and lifelong partnerships, they jump from bliss to intrigue, romance to sensuality, as arch experiments lead into the lushest pop.

The compilation isn’t a be all and end all – David Sylvian has collaborated on many other occasions not compiled here and in some cases the tracks selected provides a taster of further work that can be sought out (e.g. the Nine Horses and Tweaker works).

Nevertheless, let’s take a look at the compilation to hand and the variants between the two editions. Continue reading “David Sylvian compilations across the years – Part 3”

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Year by Year: Cocteau Twins – 1987

Cocteau Twins stepped off of the production line in 1987 and their only release of the year was one previously unissued track which was included on a 4AD label compilation LP, ‘Lonely Is An Eyesore’, released in June 1987. The track in question was ‘Crushed’. The band were far from idle however, just that their efforts were in other directions, not least in the direction of creating their first permanent recording base from which to work, based in Acton, where they enlisted the aid of members of 4AD label-mates Colourbox and Dif Juz in the fit-out and construction of the space.

Deluxe Edition LP: ‘Lonely Is An Eyesore’ (4AD CAD D 703)

‘Lonely Is An Eyesore’ was very much a project of the label founder, Ivo – and consequently, it was lavished with some degree of effort in its presentation and formatting. The ultimate edition is a wooden box-cased version which gathers together all formats of the release (4AD, CADX 703), but that is up there in the stratospheric level of 4AD collectables due to the extremely limited numbers it was produced in (apparently 100, most of which were allocated to members of the acts involved. More on that below…

Next on the list however is this Deluxe Edition of the LP format…

'Lonely Is An Eyesore' UK deluxe LP pack front cover design
^ ‘Lonely Is An Eyesore’ UK deluxe LP pack front cover design

According to what looks to be an informed source via a comment of the discogs.com entry for this release, this Deluxe Edition appears to have been pressed up in an edition of 10,000 copies. Lavish it certainly is compared to the standard vinyl LP (4AD, CAD 703), since it comes packaged in an outer slipcase which houses a three-way fold-out insert/sleeve as well as  an inner sleeve for the record plus a large size (12”x12”) 24 page booklet. Continue reading “Year by Year: Cocteau Twins – 1987”

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David Sylvian compilations across the years – Part 2

A Victim Of Stars (2CD digipak edition)

Winding on a decade from the end of Sylvian’s deal with Virgin, 2012 saw a new compilation to follow-on from those two compilations detailed in Part 1 of this post. This new compilation was ‘A Victim Of Stars’ and it gathered together a wide variety of material that spanned both Sylvian’s Virgin Records and Samadhi Sound eras, and encompassed not only solo material but stretched back a far as late period Japan, the Rain Tree crow reunion as well as many collaborations along the way.

David Sylvian - 'A Victim Of Stars' UK/EU 2xCD - front cover
^ David Sylvian – ‘A Victim Of Stars’ UK/EU 2xCD – front cover

What is/was unique to this compilation?

At the time of release, ‘What’s Your Gravity?’ was a new track exclusive to this compilation. It was subsequently released a year later in 2013 as one side of a 10″ vinyl single (which is impossibly rare and hard to find now) paired with ‘Do You Know Me Now?’. Other than that, it appears that all other tracks were previously released in one form or another beforehand. Continue reading “David Sylvian compilations across the years – Part 2”

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Tones On Tail – ‘Weird Pop’ UK/US compilation album (Beggars Banquet, BBQLP 2081, 2011)

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.

Tones On Tail - 'Weird pop' compilation LP front cover design
^ Tones On Tail – ‘Weird pop’ compilation LP front cover design – design by Glenn Campling

Those otherwise unavailable versions to be found on here for the first time  are… Continue reading “Tones On Tail – ‘Weird Pop’ UK/US compilation album (Beggars Banquet, BBQLP 2081, 2011)”

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David Sylvian compilations across the years – Part 1

Compilation albums from your favourite artists – do you like them, do you find them a waste of time? In many cases, where the proliferation of them becomes so vast that you can barely tell one from another (and I’m thinking, for example, of Gary Numan here, or Tears For Fears – damn it, Japan’s Hansa Records era has been well and truly milked over the years too with countless budget label compilations), you lose all track. For this post though, I’m  going to look at a handful of David Sylvian compilation  releases – and this really is the opposite end of the spectrum from the previous example. These are clearly very carefully curated and bring a lot to the table in what they offer by way of tracks not found elsewhere. ‘Everything and Nothing’ in particular I would consider to be a vital piece of the catalogue that has so much going for it.

‘Everything and Nothing’ (3CD digipak limited edition)

From 1982 onwards, David Sylvian’s solo and collaborative releases were released by Virgin Records and it seems only fair to say that he enjoyed a supportive relationship with the label. But by the year 2000, the deal was reaching its end and as Sylvian himself has acknowledged in interviews, he had his final chance to peruse the Virgin archives of his material from 1980 onwards – the results of that would inform the two compilations ‘Everything and Nothing’ (principally vocal material solo and in collaboration) and ‘Camphor’ (primarily instrumental material, again solo and in collaboration). Neither of these could by any means fit the ‘Greatest Hits’ compilation album template.

‘Everything and Nothing’ was available as a three disc limited edition initially and a standard two disc edition.

David Sylvian - 'Everything and Nothing' UK/EU 3xCD edition front cover
^ David Sylvian – ‘Everything and Nothing’ UK/EU 3xCD edition front cover

What is/was unique to this compilation?

In short, lots! Sylvian took advantage of this opportunity to rescue some tracks which been intended for the previous year’s ‘Dead Bees On A Cake’ album (and from earlier sessions too) but which had been left off due to being unfinished. If that gives off a hint of ‘leftovers’ of a second rate nature, let me just say that in ‘The Scent Of Magnolia’ and ‘Cover Me With Flowers’ we had top-drawer Sylvian material on offer – not to be missed. Elsewhere, several cuts were newly remixed from their original releases. Continue reading “David Sylvian compilations across the years – Part 1”