The Garden Of Earthly Delights 2024 Volume 2

 

Today's offering features four 2024 Archive releases. We are often asked to feature more Reissues. We've been reluctant to do this to avoid deflecting from our main intention of covering new albums. However 2025 will bring more of these in special separate sections, but not enough to confuse our audience.

Yachts - Missing In Action - The Lost Tapes 1980 - 81 

Yachts are beloved, not just here, but in parts of the US and deservedly so. Described at times as Punk, but more often Power Pop. They are neither really. New Wave describes them best, the UK 78 - 80 version, not the 80s geeky synth overload variation. Here are the recordings that were to form their third album that never came to light. 

The band split and this led to the likes of The Christians and It's Immaterial. Lovingly remastered recordings under the watchful eyes of band members Henry Priestman and Martin Watson. The Vinyl LP also contains the identical CD Version providing an essential example of the second Merseybeat.

You can buy the album here.

Bruce Woolley & The Camera Club - The Definitive Anthology 1977-1981 (3CD)

Talking of New Wave. the band's only released album, English Garden is one of the essential albums of the genre. Containing the early versions of Video Killed The Radio Star and Clean Clean that were written by Woolley and the pre Buggles Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes, that album is expanded. 

CBS refused to release the second album bizarrely and that is here with loads of extra stuff and 2 In Concert Recordings, one from the UK and one from the US. An essential 3 Disc set from a band that included Thomas Dolby and a reminder of how joyous that New Wave scene was.

You can buy the set here.

The Futureheads - Decent Days & Nights - The Singles

Without the intention of name dropping, I remember a conversation with Andy Partridge about similar bands to XTC and he singled out The Futureheads and Field Music as examples. Sunderland's finest certainly have that angular, swift changing of direction that XTC had, but also have the benefit of four part vocal harmonies.

19 singles are gathered together for then first time including that wonderful cover of Kate Bush's Hounds Of Love. Here is a band every bit as good as the likes of Franz Ferdinand with a fine Indie Guitar led collection that is available as a 2 LP or CD version.

You can buy the CD here. The Vinyl Edition is available here.

Tremeloes - Master (Remastered And Extended)

Known for UK Beat and Pop, The Tremeloes dropped the "The" for this 1970 release and showed a completely different side to the band. The poptastic gentle harmonies are placed on the back burner in favour of a crunchier Rock sound. But there are also some wonderful Psych Pop adventures contained within.

The harmonies are still here, but far more West Coast orientated. Here is the definitive version on Roger Houdaille's excellent Think Like A Key label. Remastered by Prof. Stoned and adding 12 Bonus Tracks.

You can buy the album here and everywhere.

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Here Is The News,

 

The new Here Is The News is delighted to tell you about some upcoming releases, quite a few of which are close to our heart from our Anything Should Happen days. We are excited to see them and it has brought back some really fond memories.

This issue is slightly curtailed due to us being behind, so some releases intended are coming up for Review due to the albums coming close to street date. However, this selection is really exciting.

The Lilac Time - Astronauts   

As long time fans of Stephen Duffy and The Lilac Time, the remastered edition of The Lilac Time's 1991 album, Astronauts on Pete Paphides's Needle Mythology label. The label of course is named after a Duffy song. 

Astronauts is a wonderful album, a little unappreciated at the time as it marked the end of the Pastoral Pop before it and was also completely out of kilter with what was around in 1991. It is an album that has grown in esteem over the years and remains maybe our favourite album by the band.

The new edition is available in both 3 LP and 3 CD Versions. The original album is remastered, Album 2 contains works in progress at the time and Album 3 gathers live performances from the period. Both versions contain an 11,000 word history of the album, written by Paphides.

Details here.

The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band - Still Barking

I am a large collector of Bonzo related offerings, including solo post Bonzo adventures. This set is a must have for me, despite the high price tag. 7 Years in the making, it is the absolute document of the band's career across 17 CDs and 3 DVDs. It is accompanied by a 148 page Coffee Table Book within.

Stereo versions of all of the band's original albums, carefully remastered to capture their idiosyncratic charm. 

Additional remastered versions 'Gorilla' and 'The Doughnut In Granny's Greenhouse' in their original mono mixes. 

A newly compiled remastered CD of all the band's singles. 

Two discs of demos, rehearsals, and outtakes. 

A single disc of backing tracks. 

Three discs of BBC Sessions that capture the band's eccentric live energy. 

Two live discs: Studio Bellevue, Amsterdam. Recorded: November 1968. Transmission date: 3 January 1969. Fillmore East, NYC, 17 October 1969. 

A CD featuring a live show from London's Marquee Club and additional material of band rehearsals from the Manor Studios in Oxfordshire. 

Plus: Three DVDs of TV performances, including the complete 'Do Not Adjust Your Set' shows, 'Colour Me Pop', 'Beat Club', and more. Highlights include rare appearances, short films, and vintage footage from the height of their career. The Release Date is 13 December 2024.

Details here.

Bill Nelson - Quit Dreaming & Get On the Beam, 3CD/1Blu-ray Deluxe Box Set

Cherry Red are on fire at the moment, as the next three releases will prove. Bill Nelson goes solo with this 1981 release and this Deluxe 3 CD and 1 Blu-Ray Edition is the be all and end all of the release. The original album is here, plus the remastered 2024 version.

The new Stereo Mix and the 5.1 Surround Mix add 2 outtakes and Disc 2 is a collection of singles and B Sides plus Radio Sessions across 23 tracks. The release date is 6 December 2024.

Details here.

Mark Wirtz: - Dream Dream Dream - The Anthology, 5CD Deluxe Clamshell Box

Mark Wirtz, the master of Toytown is celebrated in this 5 Disc Set. Wirtz was prolific in both his collaborations and his own career as revealed here. Disc 5 contains a 27 collection of curios, Outtakes, Demos and Remixes.

Buyers will also receive a download of an additional 35 Tracks. The Release Date is 15 November 2024.

Details here.

Bruce Woolley & The Camera Club: The Definitive Anthology 1977-1981, 3CD

Another Anything Should Happen New Wave attention grabber was Bruce Wooley. Known maybe only as the co-writer of The Buggles' singles Video Killed The Radio Star and Clean Clean, the one album released, English Garden, is a cracking album. It also contains the original versions of those two singles.

The Camera Club included Thomas Dolby on keyboards. The band offered CBS a second album which the label refused to release. The 69 track collection contains that unreleased album and much more.

Disc 3 contains two Live Radio Broadcasts, one from the UK, one from the States. A 28 page booklet is included with quotes from Bruce Woolley, Dave Birch and Thomas Dolby. The 3 CD Set is released on 15 November.

Details here.

Nick Piunti And The Complicated Men - Up And Out Of It

Now for something more current. Nick Piunti's brand of Power Pop has been regularly covered on IDHAS, deservedly so. Riff driven with big choruses and incredibly melodic, Up And Out Of It is no different. 

Memorable sing along joy has already been shown with the three single releases. Feel good Pop Rock awaits you with this 18 October release on the Jim Records label.

Details here.

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